Head and Neck Pain: The Correlation and Causes

For those who frequently suffer from both headaches and neck pain simultaneously, it may not be surprising to learn that these symptoms are often interlinked. In 1983 a Norwegian physician, Dr. Ottar Sjaastad, documented a sub-group of headache patients with head pain that originated within the cervical spine. He dubbed this discovery the "cervicogenic headache".

Cervicogenic Headaches - Likely Causes:

Pain can spread. A problem within the neck can stimulate a nerve that leads to the scalp and subsequently cause a headache. Unfortunately, the duality of this problem can make it difficult to find the root and therefore define a suitable treatment. The majority of cervicogenic headaches are due to tightness in the posterior neck muscles, which can be found at the back of the neck. As a result, anything that can strain the neck muscles can also cause a cervicogenic headache. Below is a list of the main causes:

Stress Induced: Stress can cause the muscles around the neck to tighten, which can lead to tension headaches, neck pain and a feeling of pressure.

Bad Posture: From a pillow with inadequate support to a poor driving position, there are a thousand and one ways to cause neck pain.

Injury or Trauma: An injury to the neck of shoulders can create tension and strain within the muscles around the neck, shoulders and head.

Poor lighting: If you're straining to read due to insufficient light, it can lead to eyestrain and stiffness in your scalp and forehead muscles.

Gum chewing: Vigorous chewing can strain the muscles in your head and neck.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders: Excessive jaw clenching or poor jaw alignment can lead to both headaches and neck pain.

Meningitis: Symptoms of meningitis often include head pain, neck stiffness and fever.

Do I have Cervicogenic Headaches?

Approximately 8% of the global population suffers from cervicogenic headaches - according to the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. If you think you may be suffering from cervicogenic headaches, ask yourself these questions:

1) Does the pain begins at the base of the neck and gradually moves into the head?

2) At the headache's onset, is the neck region tender to touch?

Both of these are classic symptoms. However, there are many causes for headaches and neck pain, so it is important to talk to a health care provider to determine the exact cause. Issues rarely cure themselves and can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition, so don't ignore the issue.

5 Steps to Relieving the Pain in Your Jaw

Jaw Pain, or TMJD (which stands for tempomandibular joint disorder), as a common ailment that affects millions of Americans each year. Most people who get jaw pain, get it for a short period of time due to an intense amount of stress in their lives or injury. Some folks get more chronic jaw pain, which can be particularly difficult to treat and manage as there are not many proven methods of treatment for chronic TMJD that have been effective for more than just a small number of people.

In this article you will learn how to effectively treat your jaw pain in five simple steps, moving from most basic to more complicated. If a lower step is not effective for you, move to the next step.

Disclaimer: If your jaw pain persists, contact a medical professional.

Step 1: Ice. Like most injuries or swelling, ice can numb the pain and help facilitate healing. A twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off cycle should be sufficient. The more you can do this, the faster the healing will be.

Step 2: Ibuprofen or other over-the-counter swelling medications. If simple ice doesn't work, you can move to mild drugs. Most jaw pain is caused by swelling of the jaw joint, due to excessive clenching/grinding (bruxism) or tension. When the you take measures to reduce the swelling, you can help to the joint heal while at the same time removing the pain.

Step 3: Eating soft foods. A soft food diet is often recommended for the first few days or weeks of healing the jaw after pain has occurred. This reduces tension on the jaw. Consider eating foods like yogurt, soups, smoothies, and pasta. Just make sure to keep a healthy diet and continue to avoid sugars as much as possible, as fructose has been known to cause inflammation and hyper-tension.

Step 4: If your jaw pain has not been healed by now, you must start moving into long-term treatment and management. One simple way to start this long-term management is to start jaw exercises. Simple jaw exercises, like moving your jaw side-to-side with your hand pressed against it, can help strengthen your jaw and give you more control over it.

Step 5: Get to the root cause of the pain. If jaw pain is becoming an issue over many weeks or months, there is usually an underlying cause. Often times the underlying cause is stress or clenching (often times at night while you don't even know you're doing it). Consider taking a stress management class, or getting a mouth guard to help avoid nighttime clenching.

How to Cure TMJ Pain Permanently With No Surgery

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJDs), commonly called TMJ, are a collection of poorly understood conditions characterized by pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues and limitations in jaw movements. TMJ is a disorder that arises when the jaw is improperly aligned, and it can cause many different painful symptoms. TMJ is the commonly used acronym for temporomandibular joint disorder. Treatment for TMJ depends on the severity and extent of the individual's condition. Treatment with drugs that prevent chronic tension-type headache is often effective, particularly the tricyclic antidepressants.

Between 5 and 15 percent of people in the United States experience pain associated with TMJ disorders, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. Some patients have experienced worsening conditions due to guards- If your TMJ is caused by having a bad bite then your specialist may require dental therapy or restoration. TMJ treatment may range from conservative dental and medical care to complex surgery. Symptoms may relate to your bite and how they can successfully be treated by a health care professional that has special education in managing these disorders. Symptoms of TMJ disorder The most common symptom of TMJ disorder is pain, with intense discomfort not just in the face and jaw joint, but also the neck and shoulders.

Many medical and dental insurance plans do not pay for treatment of jaw joint and muscle disorders, or only pay for some procedures. TMJ is a disorder that arises when the jaw is improperly aligned, and it can cause many different painful symptoms. TMJ disorders can bring headaches, facial paint enderness in the jaw clicking and grinding noises in the jaw difficulty in opening the mouth as if the jaw were locked and even or uncomfortable bite trouble chewing certain food saching in or near the ear.

Depending on the severity of the TMJ, there are many effective treatments that range from specific muscle relaxing exercises to costly surgery. People tried The TMJ no more program and the TMJ help program, but they recommend the TMJ Help program. The program first explains your TMJ problem and then gives you a simple, step-by-step program that is aimed specifically at your causes for TMJ.

Surgery to cure temporomandibular joint pain may be performed as the last resort, provided that you have tried all the alternative treatment options. The treatments that ended up helping TMJ the most involved improving overall posture and body alignment and loosening up my tight muscles.

Why You Shouldn't Ignore Teeth Grinding

Most people shrug off teeth clenching or teeth grinding as just an annoying habit that does not cause any real harm. However, the truth is that while mild teeth grinding or bruxism as it is medically referred to, may not have any alarming consequences, more severe cases can cause a range of complications. Getting the appropriate treatment in time can help ease the symptoms and prevent any further damage.

Here are some of the consequences of bruxism and why it should not be ignored:

Damage to Teeth

When you clench or grind your teeth constantly, the biting surfaces of the upper as well as the lower teeth tend to get worn out and can get chipped or damaged. If you have crowns or overlays, these can get damaged and will need to be replaced and dentures can get fractured. You will end up having to pay a lot of money to get your teeth restored to their former condition. If you are aware that you grind your teeth during the day or are told that you do so in your sleep, see a dentist at the earliest to prevent further damage to your teeth.

Chronic Headaches

Stress has been proven to be the number one factor that causes a person to grind their teeth in their sleep. This continual grinding and the related mouth and jaw movements cause severe headaches that recur from time to time. While over the counter medications can help to alleviate the pain, because they are recurrent, they can be inconvenient, uncomfortable and annoying and can also trigger off other problems such as depression and anxiety. Taking steps to stop the bruxism will usually stop the headaches as well.

Temporomandibular Disorders

The almost continual moving of the mouth when grinding the teeth moves the temporomandibular joints more than it should. The temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, are the ball and socket joints that join the jawbones or the mandible to the temporal bone of the skull. Disproportionate mouth movements can cause problems with these joints and they can even get dislocated in case of severe bruxism.

Changes in Bite Pattern

Grinding the teeth continually will wear away your teeth slowly and eventually change the shape of your teeth. This will force you to change your bite as you unconsciously or consciously favor your undamaged teeth for biting. This can hamper your dietary intake as it makes eating certain foods a little more difficult.

Facial Pains

Continuously clenching your teeth can strain the facial muscles and trigger off a lot of facial pains that over time will accelerate the formation of wrinkles and cause the skin to sag faster.

With so many harmful injuries of bruxism, it is a good idea to attend to them immediately and prevent any further complications.

Fibromyalgia: The Mystery Illness

Fibromyalgia is an illness of mystery. Although it is a mysterious illness, Fibromyalgia sufferers can experience debilitating pain among other symptoms. Many people used to consider it "Women's Hysteria", however it is very real and can not be cured. Besides some symptoms listed in this article, there are many symptoms that people are unaware of and you will be surprised at all the symptoms that Fibromyalgia can cause.

There are many facts and fictions about Fibromyalgia, which can impact a person's life. The severe pain can lead them to isolation because no one believes it is a real illness. Here are facts and fiction about Fibromyalgia:

Fiction:

• Fibromyalgia is not a real illness.


• It can be fatal.


• It is a new illness and rare.


• Causes serious damage to your body.


• It only affects women.


• It occurs in the elderly only

Facts:

• Fibromyalgia is real with a variety of symptoms.


• It has been around for hundreds of years.


• It does not cause serious body damage.


• It does mostly affect women, but men can get it too.


• Fibromyalgia is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age, but can be seen at any age.

There are many symptoms of Fibromyalgia, common symptoms are:

• Widespread body aches, including muscles and joints.


• Chest pains.


• Stiffness in the morning.


• Extreme fatigue.


• Sleep apnea and insomnia.


• Feeling anxious often.


• Difficulty concentrating.


• Depression can also go with Fibromyalgia.


• Stomach problems.


• More painful menstrual cramps


• Blurry vision.


• Feeling nauseaus and dizzy.


• Gaining and losing weight.


• Persistent daily headaches that do not usually go away with pain relievers.


• Problems with your skin.


• Weakness in your muscles, including twitching.


• Face and jaw pain, also known as TMJ Disorder.

They are the most common major symptoms of Fibromyalgia, but there are other symptoms as well. You may experience all or only some of the following symptoms.

• You may experience delayed reactions to physical exertion and stressful events. It can take days to weeks after the event.


• Excessive sweating.


• Excessive perspiration


• Strange cravings for chocolate or carbohydrates.


• Cravings for carbs and chocolate.


• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


• Isolation and loneliness.

Fibromyalgia can also mimic other serious disorders, so it is best that you see a physician to rule out any major diseases. Once diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, you may be prescribed certain medications, including Lyrica. But the best treatment, is a healthy diet, exercise, and rest as needed. You may need to seek counseling to aid you with symptoms of depression and how to cope with pain. If you feel you have any of these symptoms, seek the advice of a doctor.

TMJ Disorder - Little Known Symptoms and Treatments

TMJ Disorder, otherwise known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, deals with the joints that connect your jaw to your cranium. This disorder covers several different minor problems, whether it is mere inflammation of the joint or severe problems with jaw placement. This disorder causes a great deal of pain for people while chewing or talking. For some, it is a constant source of pain.

Frequent causes of TMJ are arthritis or trauma to the jaw. If you have been the victim of an event where you received head trauma (like a car accident or a fight), you should immediately visit a doctor or dentist to see if there have been any slight dislocations or problems with this joint.

It can also be the result of losing teeth. Some children may develop this at an early age when they lose their baby teeth. Adults may develop it if teeth are pulled. Your jaw is designed to rest at an angle, leaving just enough room for your upper and lower teeth to touch. If teeth are suddenly missing, there is nothing to support that angle. The jaw may sag and pull at the muscles and joint, inflaming it. This is why you should take good care of your teeth.

You can get this disorder just like you can develop tendonitis or carpel tunnel syndrome. If you repeatedly chew gum or other sticky substances, take bites of food that are too big for your mouth, have nervous ticks or habits that lead you to chew strangely, or constantly move your jaw, then you can wear out this joint. Sometimes it is merely an effect of a degenerative disease. If you have such a disease, ask your doctor or dentist if you are at risk for TMJ.

The problem occurs in a very central part of your body. It is technically a bone and joint issue, but many of your head muscles are affected when your jaw moves. It can also lead to hearing or vision problems, since the head is a tightly wired space with many overlapping and diverse anatomical systems. TMJ could lead you to having to see a neurologist, a dentist, an optometrist, a surgeon, and various other specialists.

Take note of any pain in your head. Even normal headaches could be a sign of a deeper problem. The more specific you can be about your pain, the better the chances of correcting it. Frequent symptoms include a clicking jaw or a jaw that locks up and cannot be opened without some difficulty. It may hurt to chew, especially for harder foods.

Your ears may be very sensitive to this problem and the muscles and tissue around your ears could be sore. This is because of their close proximity to the joint. You may feel a great deal of strain in your neck, like you pulled a muscle.

Treatments include wearing things like a mouth guard, braces or retainers. You may have to attend physical therapy to learn how to move your jaw correctly and stop any bad habits. Surgery is an option for very bad cases, while mild pain killers are enough for some slight cases.

TMJ Relief - Get These Dentist Tests, See If You Need Treatment

If you think you have pain related to a TMJ disorder, save yourself time by looking for a TMJ dentist close by in your local area who can perform four specific tests. These four tests are a joint vibrational analysis, jaw tracker analysis, electromyography analysis and a tomographic x-ray analysis. These tests confirm if the source of pain is because of a TMJ problem. The problem is, not all dentists are comfortable treating a TMJ disorder and not all dentists perform these four tests.

If someone has experienced pain for some time in the form of headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial pain or neck pain then they should consider seeing a practitioner of neuromuscular dentistry (a TMJ dentist) who can confirm if the source of their pain is with the TMJ.

Tension or muscle strains causing pain in any of these areas often show signs of improvement in a matter of days to a few weeks. However, long term pain can be a sign of a more serious problem with the temporomandibular joint that needs to be properly treated as early as possible.

Visiting A TMJ Dentist

When you see a TMJ dentist he will ask you a number of questions to help identify what the source of your pain problem is. Among the many things he will want to know is where the pain is located and when it first began. He will also educate you about the many things that may have originally happened to cause your pain.

The more specific you are about the history your TMJ symptoms the better it is in terms of a diagnosis. The TMJ dentist will perform an initial assessment on you and can then use four pieces of high-tech diagnostic equipment in order to precisely assess the cause of your pain. If the test results show a patient has a TMJ disorder then a TMJ dentist can provide an appropriate treatment plan.

Here are the four tests to determine if someone has a TMJ disorder and could benefit from treatment by a TMJ dentist.

1. Joint Vibrational Analysis

Healthy joints should make almost no sound when moved. If a vibration is detected in the TMJ when opening the jaw this indicates that there is a problem with this joint. The next step with this equipment would be to determine if there is damage to any tissues in this joint.

2. Jaw Tracker Analysis

A jaw tracker determines how fast and how easily the jaw opens and closes. It also indicates how straight the jaw opens. Both of these elements are used to assess the degree of damage to the TMJ.

3. Electromyography Analysis

The amount of tension present in the TMJ related muscles is determined through electromyography as another very important indicator of the state of health of the temporomandibular joint.

4.Tomographic X-Ray Test

Visualization of the jaw joint is assisted with the use of a complex motion tomography x-ray machine. Alignment is checked with this important piece of diagnostic equipment which is very different from a regular x-ray.

The use of these four diagnostic tools assist a TMJ dentist in getting as clear a picture as possible of the cause of someones' pain. A proper and complete diagnosis is the most important step in removing pain for the long term because the proper course of treatment can only begin once the root cause of pain is accurately determined.

Tension Headache As a Result of Tinnitus

Tension headaches like other types of headaches are experienced by many people. Although studies show that more women tend to experience it more than men, these can be a problem in carrying out your everyday activities.

These horrible headaches can sometimes be caused as a result of the tension created by another ailment, inner ear problems or ringing in the ears.

Tension headaches are medically known as tension-type headaches. These ailments occur mostly in women than in men. Some individuals tend to mix up tension type headaches with migraine headaches and end up taking the wrong medication.

As stated before; tension type headaches can become a serious problem and hinder a person's lifestyle. If you have a loss of appetite, feel tenderness in the scalp area, your neck and shoulder muscles in addition to the pain in your head, you could be suffering from a headache caused by tension.

There are chronic and episodic tension headaches a person could experience. How do we identify each? If you have been suffering from the headache for the last 15 days and have noticed a pattern in the past few months, you are likely to be suffering from a chronic tension headache. Episodic tension type headaches are of a milder version and lasts for a lesser period.

Determining the causes of tension that result in these headaches is quite difficult for doctors. But it is believed that an individual's stress and tension level play a bigger role in the occurrence of a bout of head pain. In addition to having a stressed out life, a person 穩s high intake of caffeine or alcohol, feeling anxious or depressed can all increase the severity of the discomfort you have.

No person can work well when they suffer from headaches. Tension headaches are no different from all other headaches. If you get this type of headache, you will obviously notice a decrease in the total productivity level.

There are some people who do not take any type of treatment for these nuisances and end up in worse situations. Treatment for tension headaches usually includes medical prescriptions for pain killers such as Analgesics and a combination of other medications. Getting a proper diagnosis done is more important than consuming any medicine.

Sore Teeth Are Just One of Many TMD Symptoms

Sensitive and sore teeth are often symptoms of a disorder known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). You will often hear people speak about their TMJ problems. The letters TMJ actually refer to the temporomandibular joint, or the jaw joint. The TMJ is a small joint in the front of each ear that attaches the lower jaw to the skull and is the most complex joint in the entire human body. The area of the face where the temporomandibular joint is located is a complex network of bones including the muscles, nerves and teeth. This complex system affects many areas of the body from the head to the fingertips.

TMD/TMJ are terms used to describe a group of symptoms including:

· Migraine-like headaches

· Facial pain

· Neck pain

· Jaw pain

· Shoulder pain

· Limited jaw movement

· Locking of the jaw

· Clicking and popping noises of the jaw

· Numbness of fingers and arms

· Sore and sensitive teeth

Grinding of the teeth, snoring, frequent ear infections and restricted airway are other problems often associated with TMD.

A highly trained neuromuscular dentist can relieve your symptoms of TMD including sore teeth by evaluating your bite and correcting a misaligned bite. In most cases, TMD is caused by malocclusion (misaligned bite). When you suffer from malocclusion, your upper and lower teeth do not close together in the correct way; this includes overbites and under bites. When your teeth are not aligned properly, they cannot provide the support the muscles in the face require for chewing and swallowing. These muscles are then forced into a strained position, which results in pain and limited jaw movement.

Neuromuscular dentists measure the most relaxed position of your jaw to determine the goal for normal positioning. Then the dentist works to realign your bite and restore the teeth and thus the jaw to their optimal position. Once your bite is aligned properly, your symptoms, including sore teeth, should disappear.

What Causes TMD?

The causes of TMD are still not clear, but neuromuscular dentists believe that TMD symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of the jaw or with the parts of the joint itself. Possible causes include:

· Grinding/clenching your teeth, which puts a great deal of pressure on the TMJ

· Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket

· Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis

· Stress, which causes you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth

Treatments for TMD range from very conservative to more aggressive, including injections and surgery. Your neuromuscular dentist will discuss the many treatment options available to you once your case is evaluated and assessed thoroughly.

Living With TMJ Symptoms - Are TMJ Symptoms Reversible Without TMJ Surgery?

Do you think you have TMJ and are looking for a dentist or therapist to help with TMJ relief?

First let's discuss some of the symptoms so that you are clear about what to watch for and take care of -

TMJ Symptoms:

Your jaw hurts especially when talking, yawning or chewing

You can't open your mouth wide. It may get so bad you can't open more than two inches.

You also feel pain in your neck, shoulders or ears. Teeth Grinding Jaw Clicking

Does that sound like you?

It is the muscles that control your jaws that are the problem. One set of muscles pulls in one direction to open your mouth and another set of muscle pull in another way to close your mouth. If your muscles are stressed in certain ways, tired or overworked, they won't open or close your jaw properly.

So what to do about it? You could see someone such as a dentist or a physical therapist and they can assist you. Or read on and I will give you another suggestion.

Some things that may be suggested:

A dentist may tell you that you need a mouthguard to realign your jaw.

You may be told to consciously relax your shoulders, face and jaw muscles to ease TMJ symptoms.

Sleep on your back or side, as sleeping face down pushes your face to the side, causing pressure on the jaw.

Surgery may be suggested. Be sure to try looking at other means to correct your problem first.

Some diet tips:

Eliminate Caffeine, or seriously cut back on it. Those who drink caffeine tend to clench their jaw more.

Don't chew large pieces of hard or brittle food.

Eat plenty of vegetables, especially dark green vegetables. They contain Calcium and Magnesium, which help with healthy muscles, ligaments and tendons.

You may want to eat soft foods for a few days. If you TMJ is particularly bad, you could make vegetable soup with a variety of vegetables and a small amount of meat and get by for a few days to rest your jaw, as this will rest your jaw from vigorous chewing.

Can the situation be serious? Yes it can. The temporomandibular joint can become inflamed and swollen. If it gets bad enough it may lock your jaw open or shut. The muscles and ligaments around this joint could lose their elasticity and balance with other muscles, leading to your lower jaw pulling in, which will cause a receding jaw.

TMJ Therapy Can Be Used to Cure Your TMJ Disorder

Many people suffering from chronic jaw pain are diagnosed with TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) disorder and advised to get surgery to correct it. However, surgery is very risky and should only be used as a last resort after other methods have failed. There are actually some TMJ therapy exercises that can be done at home that may actually give you a TMJ cure.

First let's talk about why some dentists and doctors will recommend using surgery to correct your TMJ problem. The honest and straightforward answer to that is, treating the TMJ disorder is a booming business. Many dentists know the first solution they suggest will not work and it will mean more visits for the same problem. Unscrupulous, huh?

If they claim to know more than they do about your disorder they will be able to get you to try treatments that are easy for them to profit from. They can get you to buy some products that will never work.

Here is an example:

Your disorder may be solely caused by stress and tension which causes you to grind your teeth or clench your jaws at night in your sleep. Your dentist tells you the cause is because you have a bad bite profile and the treatment is to sell you a piece of plastic that goes between your teeth called a mandibular orthopedic repositioning appliance. This device is designed to help you correct your bite. Sadly, if this is the treatment you go with and your problem has nothing to do with your bite, it can reposition your teeth and damage your TMJ so much the only way to repair the damage will be to have facial reconstructive surgery.

Unless your disorder was caused by an injury, and you should know the most common cause of the TMJ disorder is muscle tension, the chances of surgery being the best solution are very low. If however, your TMJ disorder is a physical condition then you should consider that most physical conditions are treated successfully with therapy.

Before we explain what some of the TMJ therapy plans consist of I want you to understand what the most recommended surgery these doctors and dentists are suggesting. This is a painful and expensive procedure that involves removing the disc that acts as a cushion between your jaw bone and the skull. This disc works the same as a disc in your back that cushions one vertebrate from another. After the disc is removed the joint is either reshaped or an artificial disc is inserted to take the place of the original. Doesn't that sound painful?!

If you are experiencing jaw pain and are diagnosed with the TMJ disorder and your doctor suggests this surgery as a treatment for your condition, you need to get a second and maybe even more opinions. The first course of action should be to try to use less expensive and less invasive treatments to try to affect a TMJ cure.

Here are some alternative home remedies to use for TMJ therapy:

• Stretches - TMJ therapy exercises are a great place to start. You can use these exercises to help relax, repair, and rebuild the muscles and tendons of your TMJ.

• Diet - Many things can be done in the way of adjusting your diet to relieve your jaw pain. You can cut down on coffee, soda and junk food that put a lot of stress on your body. You will want to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables but you need to be eating cooked or steamed vegetables because eating less crunchy foods will offer some relief for your jaw.

• Breathing - Yoga is a great choice because of the breathing exercises that go along with it. If you have never tried Yoga or if you are familiar with how it helps to relieve stress you will definitely want to make sure to give it a try focusing on the breathing exercises.

You can definitely find your TMJ cure through TMJ therapy exercises and doing a few other things that relieve stress and tension. Make sure you give these suggestions and others a try before you even consider using surgery for your TMJ disorder.

Spiritual Life Coaching - Exploring the Root Chakra

The first chakra is the root chakra or the Kundalini chakra. It is located at the base of the spine. It is represented by the Maladhara mandala, the element of fire and is symbolized by the snake or dragon. It is the foundation of the physical realm and it is through the root chakra that we remain grounded to Mother Earth or the sacred feminine, nurturing energies of Gaia. When it is dormant, the Kundalini remains coiled precisely 3 and 1/2 times around the tail of the spinal cord. Here it lies until it awakens and rises upward where it flowers at the top of the head or crown chakra. The root chakra influences our energy, our drive, or primal instincts, and our fight or flight response. It is also rules our immune system.

The root chakra governs our body's survival mechanism, such as food, shelter, and security. Our relationships in early childhood, especially those which are associated with emotional and/or physical well-being are influenced by this chakra. It stimulates activity, exercise, and vitality, as well as our general health throughout life. If there was trauma in early life regarding these issues, then it will affect our physical health until we're able to cleanse and heal this chakra. A Spiritual Counselor can give you helpful advice on how to heal your root chakra trauma.

The root chakra also relates to our material and financial achievements, success in business, and our status in society. How safe we feel in the world, how patient we are, and how well we are able to relax and be calm, are all governed by the first chakra. When it is balanced we will be in perfect health, feel free, happy, energetic, and will live our lives in a state of peace, balance, and tranquility. When it is out of balance, we will be greedy, selfish, overbearing, aggressive, and sadistic toward others. We will lack in an inner confidence and security with ourselves.

The physical ailments that may arise will include problems with the adrenal glands, thyroid, kidneys, and spinal column. Chronic ailments that are associated with a wounded root chakra are: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, candida, spinal subluxation (spine or back problems), and TMJ disorder.

Healing methods to unblock and balance the root chakra include: cleaning and cooking in the home, living close to or working close to nature, walking in nature (especially barefoot), lighting candles and incense (cedar), and holding or wearing crystals (agate, bloodstone, hematite, garnet, ruby and red jasper). Some of the healing herbs for the root chakra are dandelion, calendula, hawthorne, red clover blossoms, eyebright, and lavender flowers.

Various Diagnosis of TMJ Disorders

Temporomandibular Joint syndrome or the TMJ syndrome is quite tricky to deal with. In fact, it can be difficult and confusing at times. This is because its symptoms are generally similar to other health problems. Just take for example one simple indicator such as facial pains. You may hardly suspect it as a TMJ symptom since it can also suggest other ailment like sinusitis, decayed or abscessed teeth and any nerve-related facial ailment to name a few. But the list does not stop there. That is just for a single indication. How about headaches and constant popping sounds from your jaw? Well, you do not have to be unsure of your medical condition. That and more can only mean you need to undergo a thorough diagnosis in order for you to be cured in an appropriate manner.

There is no specific and lone accepted standard diagnosis to properly identify every TMJ condition at present. However, a comprehensive evaluation can help supply the information needed in initiating a diagnosis. This may sometimes require your past medical history and records, the actual symptoms you have been through and a physical evaluation of your head, neck, face and jaw. This number of tests can help rule out any other possible health conditions that might cause your symptoms. You see, it is better for the specialists to be sure about your condition so they can provide the right remedy for your case. Just imagine what a heath disaster in can be for you to take medications that are not appropriate for your medical problem.

Any TMJ specialist knows that you can only be treated under TMJ medications after any other possibility of existing health trouble has been seriously considered and eliminated. There are quite a handful of health care providers who can exceptionally help you get through this situation. You can consult any among primary care physician, TMJ dentist, sleep specialist, ENT specialist, neurologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, pain specialist and as well as chiropractors. TMJ syndrome is pretty complex and that explains the wide selection of specialists you might want to help you out of it.

There are also those available TMJ remedies you can find online. Some may be effective and quite convenient to use. Not to mention their affordable prices. However, you must keep in mind that only a licensed specialist can effectively help you get over with the disorder. They are the ones more reliable in this particular ailment so you do not have to take chases. After all, this concerns your health. It is only proper to do the right thing before anything gets worse.

What You Need to Know About TMJ Disorders

There are many medical conditions that affect a large number of the population but most of them go ignored because people either don't know what they are or they just choose to suffer silently. One of them affects the temporomandibular joint or otherwise known as TMJ disorders. For those unfamiliar with the term, the temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the rest of the skull and is responsible for opening and closing the mouth.

Many people experience pain and difficulty when opening their mouths which are positive signs of disorder on the TMJ. But because there is very little public information out there about this kind of condition, they are forced to endure it hoping it will go away on its own. What they don't realize is that TMJ disorders like this are either a sign of something more serious or could lead to further damage if left undiagnosed or untreated.

These disorders are not just caused by injury or damage to the joint itself. Surrounding areas and parts like the jaw, facial and neck muscles, teeth, cartilage disk at the joint, ligaments and blood vessels can affect function. It's important to know what the usual causes for these conditions are in order to help people avoid suffering from them.

The most common source of TMJ disorders is extreme physical trauma to the joint that causes it to not be in alignment or worse, break apart. This usually happens to people who experience accidents or blows to the jaw or head. Teeth grinding is also a common cause as well as other oral conditions like deformed teeth that require correction using braces. Also, dentures that are poorly done can cause these problems to occur.

Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis also play a big role for people who suffer from diminished TMJ function. Unhealthy habits like excessive gum chewing and biting big chunks of food also contribute to formation of the disorder. The symptoms of this condition often involve difficulty in biting or chewing food, clicking sound when opening the mouth, dull pain in the face, migraine, hearing loss, neck and shoulder pain. People who suspect they show any of these signs should visit an Oral Surgeon or even their own physician.

TMJ disorders and its treatments vary depending on how it's diagnosed. But usually it involves realignment or corrective measures like exercise and therapy. If it's caused by a disease or any illness, treatment will slowly reduce symptoms until TMJ function returns to normal. Surgery is usually only reserved for extreme cases like accident victims.

The Health Secret Your Jaw Can Tell

More and more our society is looking for the "silver bullet" of health. Every second TV ad suggests a drug to "fix" any health condition imaginable. Wouldn't it be great if your body could indicate its level of health and function? It can! This article explains the significance of your jaw, how a simple self-test can indicate your functional status and what you can do to achieve "true health".

Move your jaw side to side in a sawing action. Did it pop or click on one side? Can you move it more to one side than the other? Are you unable to fit your four fingers stacked vertically (no overlapping!) in your mouth? When you bite down does one side contact before the other? Chances are you tested positive in one or more of these tests for jaw imbalance and if you did, you need to read on!

The jaw joint or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be a source of discomfort for many people. TMJ Disorder (TMJD) or TMJ Syndrome and has been associated with a wide variety of other symptoms, some far removed from the jaw itself, for example chronic headaches, sinus problems, visual disturbances, ringing and pain in the ears, facial pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers and even low back pain.

Even more interestingly, TMJD has been associated with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression. Scientists and medical studies have been unable to explain the connection of TMJD to such a wide variety of dysfunctional conditions affecting both body and mind.

This may be because "scientists" overlook two indisputable facts when they look at human health.

First, the body and mind are one - a single unit linked together from head to toe via joints, muscle and connective tissue called fascia (remember the song, "The leg bone connected to the knee bone..."?).

Second, form follows function. So any "weak links" that cause structural imbalance in one part of the body will transfer throughout the body, decreasing its form and therefore its entire function also. For example, compensating for a broken toe may eventually work its way up to the neck and yes, even the jaw.

To be truly healthy is to have good function, which dictates that your form or posture must be good also. The pain, the symptoms associated with TMJD and even the TMJD itself are simply manifestations of dyfunction resulting from postural imbalance.

So why is the jaw a good example to demonstrate your level of health and function? Because it is highest joint in the body and the last area your body can compensate for postural imbalances transferring up from lower down. Also since the jaw is linked to the skull, we can easily discern dysfunction like muscle tightness, pain, popping or clicking.

Another reason to test the jaw is because the alignment of the mandible (jaw bone) can affect the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland is considered "the master gland" and is chiefly responsible for maintaining your body in a healthy, internally balanced state called homeostasis.

Lets trace the links to the pituitary. Keep reading and you'll learn the secret to "true health".

The mandible is connected to a bone in your skull called the sphenoid with muscles called the medial and lateral pterygoids. The sphenoid houses the pituitary gland in a small depression called the sella turcica. So any structural imbalance in the TMJ from strength differences in the pterygoids will transfer structural imbalance to the sphenoid, which will then compromise the function of the pituitary and homeostasis.

Now it might be easy to think that if you can correct the imbalance in the jaw with a bite plate or some surgical procedure you would fix the TMJD and be as healthy as a horse right? Wrong! This approach is doomed to fail because the jaw is also linked to the shoulders and sternum.

The mandible is connected to the shoulders and sternum via a bone just above the level of the Adam's apple called the hyoid bone. The hyoid is a "floating bone" and unlike any other bone in the body in that it does not contact other bones; rather it is suspended above and below by muscles. Its main function is to act as an anchor for the muscles that connect the mandible to the hyoid. These muscles are called suprahyoid muscles and act to open or pull the mandible down.

But wait! Muscles called the infrahyoid muscles connect the hyoid to both shoulder blades and the sternum. Their function is to anchor the hyoid in a level, "neutral" position, which is difficult because any unevenness in shoulders height or slouching will unbalance the hyoid and therefore the jaw and pituitary.

The shoulders and upper back are you guessed it, connected to the lower back and pelvis, which will only be as balanced as the "core" muscles allows them to be. The core is a system of muscles in the trunk and hip region like the glutes (butt) and abdominals that act as the body's foundation by stabilizing the pelvis and low back.

The jaw tests you tried earlier can now be looked at as indicators of the status of your core since all posture and function originates here.

So now the jaw reveals it's secret: "True health can only be achieved when the strength of the muscles of the core is balanced and the posture realigned.

Is it possible that to thrive both physically and mentally could be this simple?

Yes! We like complicated things and to make things complicated. We have been conditioned to think that complicated drugs and surgery are the answer to our health problems. They're not.

That being said restoring balance to the core is not easy. Here's why.

Your brain like all animals is hardwired for survival so it favors using mobilizing muscles that cause gross movement to move your body out of danger. Stabilizing muscles like the core muscles are less likely to be favored and more likely to become weaker since they oppose movement.

The mobilizing muscles now have to work overtime. They compensate by tightening since they have to perform their own function plus that of the weak stabilizing muscles too. Compensating muscles cannot perform both jobs effectively so muscle strength and length imbalances develop causing postural imbalances. A classic example is the hamstring muscles tightening in response to gluteus maximus weakness.

Compensation is a great technique to help you run away from a hungry lion but complicates things when you try to access the root problem of core weakness. So it doesn't matter how much "core training" you do, you will most likely just strengthen the tight mobilizing muscles and engrain the imbalances even more - like driving your car with bad wheel alignment.

So what is the solution to accessing the weak core muscles and reestablishing the body's function? Wouldn't it be great if there were some technique that could "activate" and strengthen the weak core muscles?

The good news is there is a technique called Myotonix that does exactly that. It is a form of manual therapy based on the principles and techniques of acupressure, osteopathy and trigger point therapy and to improve posture. The results are instantaneous and astounding.

This article has highlighted the significance of jaw function as an indicator of whole body function and how dysfunction in any one part of the body affects the whole. Total body health will only be realized when we recognize the connection of our form to our function. So with this knowledge, the next time you go to your dentist you can tell him the health secret of his jaw!

TMJ Headaches

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint (the jaw joint), and is also used to refer to Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, a painful disorder of this joint. One of the most common and painful of its symptoms is headaches, often thought of as migraines.

When we close our mouth and our teeth come together, that's referred to by dentists as our bite, and it's the result of the way our jaw joint operates. A bite can be well-aligned or poorly aligned. When it's misaligned the jaw muscles become strained trying to bring the teeth together properly, as we open and close our mouths so many thousands of times a day for eating, talking, swallowing, yawning, laughing etc.

What causes a misaligned bite?

Misaligned bites are caused by many varying factors. It can start in infancy, with airway obstrucition. Allergies that affect breathing, crooked teeth, or hereditary mouth conditions, or even a head injury which disrupts the jaw joint can all cause a poorly aligned bite.

TMJ Headaches Explained

1. Several large nerves, with many branches, run through the face, head, neck, and shoulder area. One is the trigeminal nerve, one of the large pairs of cranial nerves which run from the spinal cord, in between spinal vertebrae, and forward into face area. It gives the brain about 40% of its daily work and as its name implies, has three branches. Each branch has sub-branches.

2. When the jaw joint is misaligned, the muscles attached to it become tired and strained over the months and years, as they try to close the mouth correctly. They end up in perpetual spasm, never relaxing. This often leads to chronic teeth clenching or grinding, even at night during sleep. (This sometimes works the other way around too, where emotional stress causes teeth clenching, which eventually puts the jaw joint out of alignment.)

3. Perpetually tense jaw muscles create swelling and inflammation in the area, which puts pressure on the nerves. We feel this as pain. So whichever part of the nerve is being compressed, in the temple, neck, shoulder, etc., that's where we feel the pain.

4. TMJ therefore has a wide variety of symptoms, such as earaches, sore jaws, neck and should pain, and tingling in the fingers. The most painful and incapacitating symptom is headaches.

Why neuromuscular dentists can help

If you have been suffering from severe headaches, you may have visited several doctors trying to get them treated. You may have taken a variety of painkillers, but found that nothing eliminates this pain.

If your headaches are a symptom of TMJ, you need to see a neuromuscular dentist, one trained in treating not just teeth and gums, but also the jaw joint, along with its muscles, nerves, and ligaments. This is not training that the average dentist receives in dental school. It is post-graduate training, and relatively few dentists have completed it.

One neuromuscular dentist in the Los Angeles area is Dr. Joseph Henry. In explaining how he approaches patients with TMJ symptoms, he said:

I look at the relationship between the jaw joint, its muscles, and the position of the teeth. Misalignment in any of these has a direct effect on the whole system of opening and closing the jaw.

Finding your relaxed jaw position

The first step a neuromuscular dentist would take to determine whether your headaches were a TMJ symptom or not, would be to test, record, and measure your jaw movements. In this high-tech age, dentistry has moved right along with other professional fields in developing sophisticated equipment, using lasers and computers. The goal of testing and measuring your jaw movements is to find your relaxed, natural jaw position, your natural bite.

When the dentist has found your relaxed jaw position, the goal of your treatment is established, namely, to make this position permanent, thus abolishing the painful symptoms of misalignment.

Says Dr. Henry:

"A neuromuscular dentist can realign a patient's bite. Once the relaxed position is known, treatments can begin to make this relaxation permanent. We might create a custom orthotic for the patient to wear which will re-train those jaw muscles. We might plan some tooth re-shaping, or re-aligning, even a full orthodontic treatment if necessary. Each treatment is individual to that patient."

Headaches can be a thing of the past if you follow through with your visits to a neuromuscular dentist. You'll be smiling with relief and pleasure - especially if some of that dental treatment gave you a more even, brighter smile as well as pain relief!

A Few Common Services Dentists Offer

Are you dissatisfied with your teeth and wish they were more even? Do you want your teeth to have an extra gleam that catches eyes? Do you just need a regular dental cleaning done? There are so many options in the world of dentistry today, that all your teeth-related issues can be resolved easily in a quality clinic. Even if you are the kind that is mortally afraid of going to a dentist, a quality clinic addresses those fears and makes sure you are comfortable.

What are the different services that you can expect at a quality clinic? You can expect everything from services for taking care of the general health of teeth, to restoring teeth that have been badly damaged, to shaping and improving the quality of your smile. Here is a list of the common services a good clinic offers:

Cosmetic dentistry: Are you looking for ways to improve your smile, or fix a particular flaw in your teeth? Cosmetic dentistry offers you the option to have a perfect smile. Cosmetic dentists have the specialized expertise to repair those subtle flaws and design you a perfect smile.

Sedation dentistry: For many people, a visit to a dentist's chamber is like the worst nightmare come true. Many intensive dental treatments require the use of needles and other instruments, and these make a visit especially traumatic. Sedation dentists use specialized means to sedate the patient during difficult treatments. If you have a small kid or someone in the family with a low threshold of pain, ask the dentists if they offer sedation dentistry.

TMJ disorders: In quality clinics you will also find dentists who are aware of specialized issues such as disorders of the joint or muscles within the jaw. When people have these problems, they need special attention because many treatments in dentistry require the mouth to be kept open for a long time. If you, or someone else has this condition, check out dentists who address TMJ disorders in their treatments.

Teeth whitening: This is a service many people opt for, to remove spots or marks from their teeth. Dentists use treatment options to polish the teeth and perform teeth whitening. The effect is not permanent, but perfect if you want it on a temporary basis, whether before appearing at an interview or any formal occasion where it is important to look presentable.

When they are looking for dentists, Idaho Falls residents choose those with experience and expertise.

TMJ Pain Remedies

TMJ pain can be debilitating. There are some very basic TMJ remedies available at the tip of your fingers that not only relieve TMJ pain, are easy to do; they also have very little out of pocket if any, so they are not creating more stress with financial burden. Let's start with the easiest and one that helps not only your TMJ but also the entire body, walking.

So why is walking a TMJ remedy you need to start doing today? First of all, because it improves your mood, going for walks is great for removing stress and anxiety. Moreover, you'll find yourself sleeping much deeper at night. Instead of a night tossing, turning, and possibly grinding your teeth, you'll awake refreshed and relaxed - as will your TMJ. Walking will also increase your appetite. Your body will start to crave the kind of food that helps reduce inflammation and swelling in your jaw joints, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Going for a walk is just about the easiest way to start reducing TMJ pain.

When your body starts to crave the foods that will help in reducing inflammation, here are some things to consider. Number one; make sure the body is being hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps the body hydrated, which helps relax muscles. When the body is dehydrated the muscles start to tense up. Drinking caffeinated drinks (coffee, soda), especially the energy drinks like Red Bull - which are high in caffeine, dehydrates the body and causing tension and tight muscles. Recommendation is starting your day with 15 ounces of water and drink additional water throughout the day.

Magnesium rich foods help also to relax muscles. Those foods include: spinach, nuts, artichokes, beans, tomato paste, cornmeal, buckwheat flour, raw oat bran, whole wheat flour, raw barley, to name a few of the foods rich in magnesium.

Calcium works with magnesium to help muscles and nerves relax. 600 mg two times a day preferably with magnesium is recommended for supplements. Foods rich in calcium: milk, salmon, tofu, kale, cottage cheese and broccoli.

Glutamine has been used to prevent soreness in muscles after workouts. Clenching/grinding your teeth is one heck of a workout! Glutamine supplements may help also in relieving muscle soreness.

Deep breathing helps by filling your lungs with oxygen. When we get stressed, we will shorten our breathing not getting the oxygen needed to relax muscles. Breathing in through the nose deeply (inhaling) filling your abdomen, holding for a second and breathing out (exhaling) through your mouth gently pushing on your abdomen with your hand. Doing this a few times multiple times a day encourages muscle relaxation.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves relaxing a series of muscles one at a time. First increase the tension level in a group of muscles, preferably not the TMJ muscles, such as the leg or arm. This is done by tightening the muscles and then relaxing them. Then move on to the next muscle group. Sometimes applying warm, moist heat helps relax the muscles also.

Meditation is one of the best ways to calm the mind and the body. Meditation is done by sitting or lying quietly focusing on nothing or on a simple sound repeated over and over. By doing this the body enters a restful state and reduces your body's stress responses, including muscle tightness. As you enter this state, your breathing slows and muscles relax.

These home remedies can greatly reduce and many times eliminate the muscle tightness associated with the TMJ, thereby relieving TMJ pain.

What Is a TMJ Specialist

Even though the TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) disorder affects so many people there really is no such thing as a TMJ specialist in the sense that there are specialists in other fields. There are many doctors that can treat your TMJ disorder that could be considered a TMJ specialist but for it to be treated right you may need more than one doctor.

The reason for this is there are so many different types of treatment plans and each person is different and the treatment plan for each person needs to be designed around understanding the root cause of the disorder and treating that root cause plus the specific symptoms the TMJ patient is experiencing.

To help you get an idea of the different professions that are currently treating patients for their TMJ disorder check out this list:

1. Physicians
2. Radiologists
3. Prosthodontists
4. Kinesiologists
5. Biofeedback specialists
6. Craniofacial pain specialists
7. Osteopaths
8. Orthodontists
9. Neurologists
10. Maxillofacial surgeons
11. Oral surgeons
12. ENT surgeons (otolaryngologists)
13. Acupuncturists
14. Physical Therapists
15. Psychiatrists
16. Psychologists
17. Counselors
18. Dentists

The length of this list may be surprising to some people but not when you consider there are literally dozens of symptoms caused by the TMJ disorder and also dozens of different treatment plans used to treat TMJ.

Some of the treatments used by a TMJ specialist may be facial exercises, surgery, night guards, occlusal equilibration, occlusal restoration, and splints. A TMJ specialist may also use injections, heating pads, cold packs, drugs, and psychiatric treatments.
Facial exercises are designed to do the same thing as any other physical therapy.

They are also what should be the first thing you try since they can be used to completely cure your TMJ and most of the time a TMJ specialist can help you with a treatment plan that is designed for you specifically.

Splints are much the same as braces except they are not designed to move the teeth. Instead they are designed to keep the teeth slightly apart and meeting correctly and to relieve pressure on the TMJ.

Sometimes a TMJ specialist will advise you to wear a night guard. If your problem is that you have a severe overbite or underbite this may help you but only if you can find one that's perfect for your problem and your dentist can make adjustments as your healing process moves along.

Occlusal restoration and equilibration is all about adjusting how the teeth meet in your mouth. When teeth do not meet the way they are supposed to it causes stress on the TMJ. Equilibration involves grinding some of your teeth to improve how they come together and restoration aims for the same result using things like fillings, inlays, crowns, bridges and other dental work.

Since the most common cause of the TMJ disorder is grinding or clenching of the teeth in your sleep induced by tension or stress you also need to work on the root cause of the TMJ disorder and that's where counselors and psychologists come in.

If you are having jaw pains or have been diagnosed with TMJ you should make sure to find someone who has treated the TMJ disorder successfully to be your TMJ specialist.

Cure TMD-TMJ Syndrome Naturally - An End to Jaw Clenching Stress TMJ Headaches and Orofacial Pain

Part 1: A BASIC UNDERSTANDING of TMJ SYNDROME

The Origins of TMD/TMJ Syndrome

TMD/TMJ Syndrome is a collection of seemingly unrelated symptoms caused by reflexive actions of the muscles of biting and chewing. It comes from brain-muscle conditioning acquired by trauma or stress. As with all conditioning problems, it can be changed with proper training, usually with no need for other interventions -- but such training is outside the scope of dentistry (though within the scope of clinical somatic education).

The jaw muscles, like all the the muscles of the body, are subject to control by conditioned postural reflexes, which affect chewing and biting movements. The reason people don't go around slack-jawed and drooling, for example, is that a conditioned postural reflex causes the muscles of biting and chewing always to remain slightly tensed, keeping their jaws closed.

People's jaw muscles are always more or less tense, even when they are asleep -- but the norm is very mildly tense -- just enough to keep the mouth closed and lips together.

The degree of tension people hold is a matter of conditioning.

Conditioning Influences

For brevity, I'll discuss only conditions that lead to dental stress and not the normal development of muscle tone in the muscles of biting and chewing.

These influences fall into two categories:

• Emotional Stress


• Physical Trauma

I can't say from empirical studies which of these two influences is the more prevalent, but from my clinical experience, I would say that physical trauma is by far the more common cause of TMJ Syndrome.

Emotional Stress

Ever heard the expressions, "Bite your tongue"? "Grit Your Teeth"? "Bite the Bullet"? "Hold your tongue"? "Bite the Big One"? They all have something in common, don't they? What is that?

To someone who regularly represses emotion or the urge to say something, these expressions have literal meaning.

Such repression, over time, manifests as tension held in the muscles of speech -- in the jaws, mouth, neck, face, and back -- the same as the muscles of biting and chewing.

Physical Trauma

Although people experience trauma to the jaws through falls, broken teeth, intense toothache, blows, and motor vehicle accidents, the most common form of physical trauma is dentistry. Dental surgery is traumatic. The relevant term is "iatrogenic" -- which means "caused as a side-effect of treatment". Dental surgery is a major cause of TMJ Syndrome. No doubt, this assertion will cause much distress among dentists, and I regret that, but how can we escape that conclusion?

Consider the experience of dentistry, both during and after dental surgery (fillings, root canal work, implants, cosmetic dentistry, crown installation, injections of anaesthetic, even routine cleanings and examinations). Consider the response we have to that pain or even the expectation of pain: we cringe.

We may think such cringing to be momentary, but consider the intensity of the memory of dental surgery; it leaves its impressions on the nervous system as patterns of tension. (Who's relaxed going to the dentist? -- or coming out of the dentist's office?) The physical after-effects show up as tension in the jaws and neck, and often in the spinal musculature, as well -- and as a host of other symptoms.

Let's go back to our fond memories of dentistry.

If you've observed your physical reactions in the dentist's chair, you may have noticed that during probing of a tooth for decay (with that sharp, hooked probe they use), you tighten not just your jaw and neck muscles, but also the muscles of breathing, your hands, and even your legs. It's an effort to stay in the chair while feeling the urge to escape.

With procedures such as fillings, root canal surgery, implants and crown installations, the muscular responses are more specific and more intense. For teeth near the back of the jaws, we tense the muscles nearer the back of our neck; for teeth near the front of the jaws, we tense the muscles closer the front of the throat.

This reflexive response has a name: Trauma Reflex.

Trauma Reflex is the universal, involuntary response to pain and to expectation of pain.

It gets triggered in relation to the location of the pain and to our position at the time of pain. Muscular tensions form as an action of withdrawing, avoiding, or escaping the source of pain.

In dentistry, with the head commonly turned to one side, in addition to the simple trauma reflex associated with pain, we have the involvement of our sense of position, and not just the muscles of the jaws are involved, but also those of the neck, shoulders, spine.

All of these conditions combine into an experience that goes into memory with such intensity that it modifies or entirely displaces our sense of normal movement and position. We forget free movement and instead become habituated or adapted to the memory of the trauma (whether of dental work or of some other trauma involving teeth or jaws). Our neuro-muscular system acts as if the trauma is still happening, even though, to our conscious minds, it is long past.

Since accidents and surgeries address teeth at one side of the jaws or the other, the tensions occur on one side of the jaws or the other. Thus, the symptoms of such tension -- jaw pain, bite deviations, and earaches -- tend to be one-sided or to exist on one side more than on the other.

The proof of the role of trauma reflex? -- the permanent changes of bite and tension of the muscles of biting that have behind them a history of dental trauma -- and the changes people experience as they undergo somatic education, which dispels trauma reflex (evident in its results).

Every dental procedure (and every surgical procedure) should be followed by a process for dispelling the reflexive guarding triggered by the procedure.

Part 2: SELF-RELIEF/SELF-CURE of TMJ SYNDROME

In this section, I'll provide instructions for a somatic exercise to retrain your control of the muscles of biting and chewing.

You do this somatic exercise lying on a firm surface (carpet or blanket on the floor) on your belly.

1. Nestle your chin in your hands with your thumb behind and fingers in front. Your elbows are spread wide.


2. Gently open your mouth and grasp your chin with both hands.


3. Gently bite, preventing your teeth from meeting with resistance from your fingers against the force of your biting action.


4. Slowly relax the biting action, keeping firm hold of your chin with your fingers, and very slowly tilt your head back by a few degrees. You are separating your teeth by tilting your head back, rather than by dropping your lower jaw. (Special tip: as your mouth opens, feel your nasal cavity open.)


5. Keeping your head in position, gently bite, again, resisting with your finger grip.


6. Slowly tip your head back further as you relax the biting action.


7. Alternate biting-against-resistance and relaxing, opening wider until your mouth is as open as you can let it go.


8. Let go with your fingers and, with mouth open, lift your head and legs.


9. Slowly relax to complete rest.

Repeat a number of times in each practice session. You'll find that your jaws get looser and that you can open your mouth wider, each time.