So far in this series we have discussed what stress is and the effect of stress on your body. We have looked at how stress effects your immune system and makes you unwell, and more closely at how it effects digestion and your stomach.
Today’s stress buster tip is a very common and very specific problem – the jaw joint.
The jaw joint connects the lower jaw (the mandible) to the rest of the head and is a common site for aches and pains when we are stressed leading to headaches and other problems.
There are lots of strong muscles that enable the complex jaw movements, and 30% of the population develop pain in these muscles. It affects females more than males, with peaks in middle-age. Most have an awareness of grinding or clenching their teeth.
Common symptoms include aching of the facial muscles, throbbing, or dullness. There may also be ringing or fullness in the ears, a feeling that the teeth don’t meet properly, tension in the head, neck and shoulders, clicking, locking, and difficulty opening the mouth.
A simple solution to relieve this pain is in the use of small injections that can reduce muscle tension, reduce headaches, and relieve the pain felt around the joint. In addition, it can cause facial slimming which softens the angled curvature if the muscles are bulky.
Other helpful therapies includes the use of jaw exercises, massage, and sometimes acupuncture.
If you have the above symptoms then, seek expert advise for treatment of this common but complicated painful condition.
