TMJ Pain

A common issue amongst women in their 30s and 40s is the grinding or gnashing of their teeth during their sleep due to stress. This can lead to all sorts of problems including TMJ pain , which can affect a wide area around the head and neck.

But how are these women meant to stop themselves grinding their teeth in their sleep? They're asleep, they can't do anything about it then, so the answer lies in what they can do when they're not asleep.

By reducing stress levels in their waking lives they will consequently see a reduction in their teeth grinding and the resultant TMJ pain should reduce or dissipate entirely. Whereas stress management while you're asleep is nearly impossible, stress management your day to day activities is a well worn industry that is vital to keeping the high pressure business world going, so there are lots of proven solutions already available.

On such solution is pilates or yoga. By taking a class a couple of times a week you learn techniques to focus your breathing and clear your mind, at the same time as working your body physically. This clarity of thought combined with the endorphins released through exercise will help lower background stress levels and reduce TMJ pain. Another popular way to help stress-related TMJ pain is to take up some form of competitive sport. This brings a social element in to the exercise and helps you make new friends, which is also a stress reliever for some people.