Acupuncture: Effective Preventive Measure For Tmj

In the medical field, temporomandibular joint is identified as the paired joints that connect the upper and lower jaws. As one of the most complex joints in the body, TMJ can be a source of various disorders, which leads for the term TMJ to be used as a reference to the pain and dysfunction of these joints. Finding a definitive treatment for TMJ is difficult to attain as this condition is related to differing body and mind aspects including dental issues, mental stress and neuromascular disorders.



While there are different approaches to treat TMJ, these treatments could only provide short-term symptomatic relief. They rarely target the root cause of the problem, which is why TMJ can still be present despite consistent treatments. Good thing, for individuals inflicted with TMJ, acupuncture is now available and is perceived as one of the most effective forms of alternative medicine treatments that could greatly reduce the pain and discomforts induced by temporomandibular joint disorder. As an evidence to its effectiveness, a 2007 study have shown that acupuncture for TMJ profoundly reduced the muscle pains created by TMJ among its sufferers who were receiving acupuncture therapy.



Acupuncture for TMJ can be combined with a variety of TMJ treatment approaches even with medications such as analgesics, anti-inflamatories, muscle relaxants, and corticosteroids. This is due to the fact that acupuncture does not alter the functions and effectiveness of these contemporary treatments. In fact, acupuncture in itself can be used as a replacement for the aforesaid approaches without the risks of side effects.



Acupuncture is proven to be effective in reducing the pain induced by TMJ. This is because acupuncture is directed towards the main cause of the pain by balancing the mind and body by targeting a network of energy channels referred to as meridians, resetting the neuromascular tension in the jaw. It should be noted that the underlying stress and contractions in the jaw and face are what cause TMJ pain. Hence, with the aid of acupuncture, the muscles around the jaw can be relaxed, which in turn significantly decreases the stress level in the whole body, relieving the discomforts associated with TMJ.



Usually, chronic TMJ sufferers are recommended to complete six or more acupuncture treatments to achieve comprehensive results, though mild TMJ can be aided with just four treatments. Despite the relief that acupuncture for TMJ could induce, long-term treatment might still be necessary in order to "reeducate" the muscles around the temporomandibular joint in order to prevent complications from occurring. Complete long-term care for TMJ also requires lifestyle changes, dietary changes, stress reduction, jaw stretching exercises, relaxation techniques and modification in chewing habits.



When considering acupuncture as a part of your TMJ treatment, do not think of doing the acupuncture yourself. Rather, visit a reliable acupuncturist to make sure that the disharmonies and other factors causing your TMJ would be properly addressed. Bear in mind that acupuncture is an ancient treatment that involves the insertion of needles in differing pressure points in the body, which should be executed by an acupuncturist to avoid the disruption of Qi because if not appropriately done it could actually worsen your condition. Nonetheless, a trusted acupuncturist could also point you to the right direction in doing your lifestyle changes which in turn would help you in totally eliminating the discomforts induced by your TMJ.