I’ve learned that some widely used medications can cause jaw clenching and grinding as side effects. The best known are in a class called SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly prescribed for depression and/or anxiety. I'm sure you've heard of Prozac (generic name fluoxetine). Here are some other SSRIs that can cause bruxism. There may … Continue reading Treating TMJ Issues: some medications cause jaw clenching
Tag: advanced integrative bodywork
Recently I've had two clients come in for TMJ relief sessions who have previously seen multiple practitioners who worked inside their mouths. Between them, they have seen chiropractors, chiropractic neurologists, Rolfers, dentists trained by the Las Vegas Institute (LVI), and/or other massage therapists. Each of these clients told me "No one has ever touched me … Continue reading Treating TMJ Issues: choose a practitioner who works on your lateral pterygoids
I have discovered an excellent source of information about TMJ pain and dysfunction. It's a great website called Be My Healer offered by a doctor of physical therapy, Sophie Xie. She's got a couple of posts about TMJ issues. I am impressed with the quality of her posts in terms of credible information, writing to a … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: types, causes, and exercises
Learning how to de-stress yourself is huge. Everyone experiences stress. It’s just part of life. Stress becomes an issue when there’s too much of it, and your system has trouble rebounding resiliently to a calm, alert state. How is this relevant to TMJ issues? So much TMJ misery is related to chronic and acute stress. … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: de-stress quickly with these breathing techniques
For decades, the news has cautioned us about the ill effects of stress on our health, longevity, and happiness. But what is stress and how do you know when you are experiencing it? What does it have to do with jaw pain and dysfunction? Most of all, what can you do about it? Stress is … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: the effects of stress
Are you aware that there is a pillow specially designed for people with TMJ and neck issues? I've had one for several years, and I love it. I take it with me when I travel and when I camp. Since I started using it, I've never woken up with neck or jaw pain. It's the Therapeutica … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: sleep posture
You have nine jaw muscles: two pairs of large ones on the outside of your head (the masseters and temporalises), four small ones inside your mouth (two medial pterygoids and two lateral pterygoids), and one in the floor of your mouth (digastric). Any of them can get trigger points. What is a trigger point? It’s … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: releasing trigger points in your jaw muscles
The sphenoid bone is one of the most fascinating bones in the body. If you were looking at someone and could see their bones, the sphenoid would be behind their eyes and in front of their ears, with the outermost parts (the greater wings) accessible at the temples, and the lowermost parts (the pterygoid processes) … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: the role of the sphenoid bone
I'm two-thirds of the way through writing daily posts about living with, treating, and resolving TMJ disorder issues. I've posted on who tends to get it, linked to videos of self-care techniques, written about reducing night grinding and daytime clenching, explored the connection between the jaw and the pelvis (and the jaw and the endocrine … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: what would you like to learn more about?
Often neck and shoulder tension accompanies jaw pain. I'm enjoying this seated yoga sequence for neck and shoulder tension, recommended in a FB conversation about what people with TMJ do for self-care. It's 8:29 in length. Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Tension I'm a big fan of yoga, having practiced it since 1982. It's definitely … Continue reading Treating TMJ issues: an upper-body yoga sequence