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July/August 2002 Alternative Health
TMJ Pain

by Pam and Todd Pennington, LMTs

Are you able to open your mouth widely? When eating and talking, is there grinding or popping coming from your jaw? Does your jaw move straight down and straight up? Do you get headaches? Do you grit your teeth? Does your neck feel stiff? Can you turn your head to look straight out over your shoulder? Does it hurt to chew? Has your dentist ever mentioned a night tooth guard? Do you get unexplained eye pain? Is there unexplained ear pain?

You may have TMJ dysfunction. It involves tight muscles in and around the jaw (the Temporomandibular Joint), the mouth, neck, temples, and some areas on the back of the head. It is even possible for it to feel like eye pain, ear pain or tooth pain. First check with your dentist and make sure that all the teeth are OK; then consider the possibility that it could be tight muscles.

Teeth can remember the pain of a toothache. Dental work frequently has the jaw wide open for several minutes or longer at a time. This is not the usual pattern for the jaw muscles and sometimes they tighten in response. This additional tightening can occasionally be long lasting and felt as new jaw pain. It is possible to easily, gently and quickly relax the jaw muscles and reduce the pain.

Mouth guards are expensive (frequently over $250). Mouth guards seldom relax the muscles that cause the problem. It is possible to continue the tooth grinding against the mouth guard. The mouth guard does protect against further tooth destruction. Grinding down the teeth works to change the bite. In some cases, the muscles remain tight and the problem persists. Relaxing the muscles releases the system to work easily and smoothly.

Good dental hygiene is one way of avoiding TMJ pain. The fewer cavities and other dental work needed the less stress to the Temporomandibular Joint. Major trauma can injure the teeth, increasing the need for dental work. Sudden forces on the body, like whiplash, can tighten the jaw muscles and result in TMJ pain. Also, mental and emotional stress can get one to tighten the jaw and thus increase the likelihood of TMJ pain.

We have all experienced "the deadline," with all its stresses. We focus intently on the task at hand, holding the tongue just so, to perfectly perform the task or tightening the jaw against the job ahead. Afterwards, the job finished, we rush to deliver it, not thinking about how much the muscles need to be relaxed. The next urgent need presents itself. And by the end of the day, we find it difficult to let go of the stressors, "chewing" on the problems that arose in our hectic schedules. Instead of relaxing during our sleep, we continue grinding out the problems on the teeth. The headache develops in response to the tight muscles in the jaw. In response to the pain, we grit our teeth. That makes the headache pain worse….and on it goes.

It is possible to release much of the pain caused by tight head and neck muscles. If the muscles stay tight, the chances of the pain staying increase. When the muscles are coaxed to relax, relief can be quick and easy. In many cases the results can be long lasting. How long the improvement stays, may be governed by lifestyle and many other things.

Areas of elevated neurological activity, called trigger points, can be the source of pain. In order to release these areas, a technique called Neuromuscular Therapy is used. It is a gentle method of coaxing the muscles to relax. The therapist holds the point for a few seconds with a moderate amount of pressure until the muscle tension melts away.

These trigger points may be located on various places on the scalp, the face or in the muscles of the temporomandibular joint itself. This is not about digging out the tight muscles, but coaxing them to relax. Your therapist will want you to communicate any pain you are experiencing, so they will know to apply less pressure to the trigger point.

Also, many other muscles of the head and neck will be worked on to help support the change in the jaw area. It is more likely you will keep the improvement when the entire region is relaxed.

Even if you have been told that nothing can ever be done, there can be hope of change if the problem is due to muscle tightness. Frequently this improvement can last for many years. To have long term results, the entire system must be relaxed and not just a part of it.

For more information or an appointment call Pam Pennington, LMT at the Pennington Massage Clinic, 10175 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 306, Portland OR 97219, (503) 244-4427. For more articles see www.penningtonmassage.com.