DEAR DR. GOTT: I am currently having problems sleeping because I grind my teeth badly. I was told I have TMJ. I tried using a plastic mouthpiece, and I found I'm tearing it up in my sleep. I hope you can advise me of a better way to control the situation.
DEAR READER: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) covers a variety of conditions that cause pain and tenderness at the site of the ball-and-socket joint on each side of the head where the lower jaw bone joins the temporal skull bone. Jaw clicking is common and doesn't always indicate there is a problem. Without pain or limitation of movement with the clicking, a person does not suffer from TMJ.
There are numerous reasons for the disorder. Stress, trauma, a severe blow to the jaw, poor posture of the shoulders, neck and head, osteoarthritis, jaw clenching and more have been associated with TMJ.
Persistent pain and tenderness should not be ignored. You have your choice of several professionals to consult. First, consider a visit to your primary care physician. If your doctor believes the problem is more complicated than he or she can diagnose, then a referral to a dentist or oral surgeon is in order. In most cases, the pain and discomfort can be alleviated or controlled with self-managed, nonsurgical treatment, while more severe cases might require surgical intervention. Self-help techniques include deep-breathing exercises, meditation and yoga. As breathing slows and the person relaxes, muscle tension is lessened.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, or warm, moist heat might be tried as a first step. Relaxation techniques assist in managing stress. A specialist might then recommend a bite plate. For people who grind their teeth, a night guard applied over the teeth can often prevent the grinding. Beyond this, corticosteroid drugs might be appropriate. Lastly, sophisticated surgery might be attempted.
If your mouthpiece is being battered during sleep, speak with your dentist or oral surgeon. He or she might consider a heavy-duty unit, step you up to a different night guard or even progress to a trial of corticosteroids. I am at a disadvantage, since I don't know whether you have a medical history that might come into play or whether you are on medications that could have a bearing on any traditional treatment. Speak with the medical professional who knows your case best and follow the advice given.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I take a half pill for control of my high blood pressure. I couldn't stand the taste of the broken pill when I began this dosage, so I experimented and put the pill on bread or a muffin I had covered with a butter substitute. The pill didn't fall off, and I could get it down without the bad taste.
DEAR READER: Thanks for the great tip. A spoonful of applesauce or hot cereal can often accomplish the same thing, but I'm passing your suggestion on to readers who might share the same problem.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Hypertension."
DEAR READER: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) covers a variety of conditions that cause pain and tenderness at the site of the ball-and-socket joint on each side of the head where the lower jaw bone joins the temporal skull bone. Jaw clicking is common and doesn't always indicate there is a problem. Without pain or limitation of movement with the clicking, a person does not suffer from TMJ.
There are numerous reasons for the disorder. Stress, trauma, a severe blow to the jaw, poor posture of the shoulders, neck and head, osteoarthritis, jaw clenching and more have been associated with TMJ.
Persistent pain and tenderness should not be ignored. You have your choice of several professionals to consult. First, consider a visit to your primary care physician. If your doctor believes the problem is more complicated than he or she can diagnose, then a referral to a dentist or oral surgeon is in order. In most cases, the pain and discomfort can be alleviated or controlled with self-managed, nonsurgical treatment, while more severe cases might require surgical intervention. Self-help techniques include deep-breathing exercises, meditation and yoga. As breathing slows and the person relaxes, muscle tension is lessened.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, or warm, moist heat might be tried as a first step. Relaxation techniques assist in managing stress. A specialist might then recommend a bite plate. For people who grind their teeth, a night guard applied over the teeth can often prevent the grinding. Beyond this, corticosteroid drugs might be appropriate. Lastly, sophisticated surgery might be attempted.
If your mouthpiece is being battered during sleep, speak with your dentist or oral surgeon. He or she might consider a heavy-duty unit, step you up to a different night guard or even progress to a trial of corticosteroids. I am at a disadvantage, since I don't know whether you have a medical history that might come into play or whether you are on medications that could have a bearing on any traditional treatment. Speak with the medical professional who knows your case best and follow the advice given.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I take a half pill for control of my high blood pressure. I couldn't stand the taste of the broken pill when I began this dosage, so I experimented and put the pill on bread or a muffin I had covered with a butter substitute. The pill didn't fall off, and I could get it down without the bad taste.
DEAR READER: Thanks for the great tip. A spoonful of applesauce or hot cereal can often accomplish the same thing, but I'm passing your suggestion on to readers who might share the same problem.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Hypertension."