7 At-Home Treatments for TMJ & Painful Jaw Muscles

Do you suffer from TMJ symptoms, jaw pain, or both? As a TMJ doctor, I have many tools at my disposal for my patients who suffer from tight, painful jaw muscles. To help them feel better I recommend at-home treatments for TMJ that work really well. I want to share some of them with you.

Over the years I’ve recommended (and developed) a number of relaxation techniques and massages for TMJ and jaw muscle pain. If you notice yourself opening and closing your mouth all day long to stretch out your jaw muscles, you probably have a TMJ problem. Try some of these to get some relief.

TMJ Relaxation Techniques and Breathing Exercises

Most people with ongoing jaw pain and tightness tend to breathe with shallow chest movements during the day. As a matter of fact, if you suffer from any kind of muscle pain you probably breathe too quickly. This results in an imbalance of the oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body and sets you up for more even muscle pain and fatigue.

The following techniques will help you slow your breathing (most of us take too many breaths per minute) and help your muscles to relax:

With your lips lightly touching, place your tongue gently on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth, or place your tongue gently against the back of your lower front teeth. Then, bring air in through your nose and extend your belly outward. Hold this for 3 seconds and then exhale through your mouth while parting your lips slightly. Repeat 6 times. You can do this once every hour.

Try this as well: With your lips lightly touching and your tongue gently placed against your lower front teeth or your upper front teeth (or just floating in no particular position) breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds (fill your belly). Then, exhale through your lips or nose for 4 seconds. Pause for 2 seconds. This entire process should take only 10 seconds. Repeat this 6 times over a 1-minute period. This will help you train yourself to slow down your breathing. Perform this once every hour whenever you need it.

Massage for TMJ and Sore Jaw Muscles

A sore jaw indicates that your muscle health has been compromised and is likely due to the accumulation of an irritating substance which forms in response to muscle overuse, such as lactic acid. The key here is to increase the blood flow to those sore muscles which in turn brings fresh oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. The Temporalis and the Masseter are the two most important muscles for you to focus on.

Using your index and your middle finger massage the sore areas in each of these muscles in a circular motion for 6 seconds on the right side, and 6 second on the left. If you can, do both sides simultaneously. Perform this massage with your mouth hanging slightly open, and your head relaxed. Press firmly, but not so hard that tears come to your eyes. After massaging the muscles, open your mouth to its fullest non-painful position and then close your mouth slowly. Repeat this 6 times.

There are muscles inside your mouth that also can benefit from gentle massage. I find this one is best done in the shower. Open your mouth half way and place the pad of your index finger on the most rear upper tooth on one side. Then slide your index finger off that tooth moving toward the cheek in an upward direction. You should run into a wall of bone. That is where your jaw muscle attaches, and is likely to be very tender. Once you’ve found the tender region, push your index finger inward and hold for at least 30 seconds before releasing. Then switch to the other side and repeat. Massage each side 2 times.

(You can also move your index finger in a circular pattern instead of maintaining constant pressure.)

Exercises for Sore Jaws

This exercise is designed to release tension in the muscles that enable you to open and close your jaw jaw. Place your tongue as far back as possible on the roof of your mouth. Now, try to open your mouth, keeping your tongue in this position (the range of motion will be very limited). While your tongue remains in place, position your thumb under your chin and attempt to open your mouth against the resistance of your thumb. Maintain the resistance for 3 seconds before releasing. Repeat this 6 times. This exercise can be performed up to 6 times per day.

Here’s another technique that many of my patients find helpful. Blow air into your your cheek on one side and hold it for 6 seconds. Then switch to the other side and do the same thing. This can be done 6 times per day.

You can also do some tongue exercises to loosen tight jaw muscles. With your lips sealed, move your tongue in a complete circle 6 times to the right and then 6 times to the left. Then take 6 cleansing belly breaths as described above and repeat the tongue movements 2 more times.

Tight jaw muscles can produce serious pain. If you are suffering, try some of the above massages and exercises for a week or so and see if you feel better.

Please let me know which technqiue eases your pain the most.

Good Luck!

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat problems associated with facial pain, TMJ, headaches and sleep apnea.

FDA Looking At Conditions That Impact Quality Of Life

December 11, 2014 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

There are hopes that TMD will be included.

I’m happy to announce some great news. The FDA (The Food & Drug Administration) is taking a closer look at medical conditions that can have significant impact on your quality of life. Starting in 2016 the FDA will hold public meetings with the goal of determining the impact on daily life of 20 chosen diseases, and to look at the scope of services that are available to treat these conditions.

The TMJ Association is making huge efforts to have TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder) chosen as one of the diseases that will be focused on. That TMJ problems affect your quality of life is not news if you are one of estimated 35 million Americans who suffer from it every day.

Chronic pain problems, like TMD, rarely occur alone. It is estimated that 85% of TMD patients have other chronic pain conditions such as headaches, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorders, or vulvodynia. In many cases these conditions are so complicated that patients don’t know where to turn to for care. As a matter of fact, I see many patients every week who have been told that they will never get better and that their problem is in “the head.”

If chosen as one of the conditions to be studied by the FDA, more information will be made readily available to you, the public, as to the nature of TMD and the treatments that are available.

Here are some facts about TMD that more people need to know:

TMD problems are orthopedic in nature.
TMD problems may be the result of (or aggravated by) rheumatologic, autoimmune or neurologic conditions.
Women are the largest group with TMJ symptoms as a result of specific biologic predispositions, some of which are hormone-driven.
Common TMJ problems may be the result of an accident, overusing the jaws, bad posture, teeth grinding (bruxism), or muscle tension caused by by emotions and life’s challenges.
Treatment for TMJ disorders should not focus merely on the teeth; the ultimate goal should be tissue healing and change of habits.
Getting better typically will lead to less pain, less medication, better function and increased optimism in people who before had anticipated a lifetime of suffering.

The same as with other orthopedic problems, after treatment patients may still have some pain, but it is likely that it will be at a much more tolerable level.

For all of you TMD/TMJ sufferers out there, the fact that the FDA has recognized that it’s time for this type of condition to be validated is welcome news. The result will be more access to information and thus, more access to treatment.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat problems associated with facial pain, TMJ, and headaches.

Transcendental Meditation Can Ease TMJ Symptoms and Headaches

October 6, 2014 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

In my practice I work with patients who suffer from facial pain, tight jaws, headaches (of a muscle or migraine variety), neck pain, or a combination of two or three symptoms. Some of my patients are poor sleepers and many of them grind and clench their teeth at night, resulting in problems with the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). But what most of these patients have in common is an extraordinarily high level of stress due to tension at work, overwhelming financial burdens, caring for aging parents, and more.

Sound familiar to you? Read on:

The logical way to reduce stress would be to make some big changes in your life, right? But that’s no simple task, if it’s possible at all. Unfortunately, when you live with stress over a long period of time your brain can become either fatigued, upset, or both. In this state you are more likely to develop physical ailments associated with the muscles of the head, neck and jaw. This perpetual state of mind-body imbalance can result in unhappy muscles resulting in facial pain, stiffness, spasms, limited head or jaw motion, and/or frequent muscle or migraine headaches.

The question then becomes “Are there treatment strategies that deal with the source of unhappy muscles instead of merely dealing with the end result?” This is where Transcendental Meditation (TM) comes in. Though it is far from being the only technique that addresses brain fatigue and upset, there is increasing scientific evidence that suggests that TM can help achieve mind-body balance.

How does TM work to ease TMJ symptoms and headaches?

The practice of TM promotes restful alertness of the mind. When you are in a restful alertness state there is improvement in the coordinated functioning of all parts of your brain (called EEG Coherence). EEG Coherence means that brain is operating in its most efficient way. In this state there is synchronization of the many types of brain waves communicating with your organ systems, and your organs are communicating in synchronization with your brain. When these communication pathways work well, muscles and joints are under a lower level of strain, they fatigue less, and they function more smoothly and easily.

Over time, people who practice TM report less pain, decreased strain, and more comfort in their face, jaw, neck and head.

As a doctor whose specialty is treating pain I will always have patients who need prescriptions, muscle or joint injections, oral appliances, exercises, rehabilitation and other relaxation strategies. But I now strongly advise all my patients to consider making Transcendental Meditation a part of their daily routine. So far, the feedback from my patients who practice TM is very encouraging.

After a consultation in my office I can refer you to one of the TM centers that I work with; sometimes even enabling you to receive a lowered fee to be trained.

Do you practice TM? Please feel free to share your experience here:

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat problems associated with facial pain, TMJ, and headaches.

TMJ Problems and Wisdom Tooth Removal – Is There a Right Time?

July 21, 2014 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

When the recommendation has been made for wisdom teeth removal, and the patient has (or has experienced TMJ problems), some very important factors must be considered because TMJ problems and wisdom teeth removal sometimes don’t play nice with each other. The trauma to the jaw during surgery can make TMJ problems flare and potentially cause longer term problems including pain, additional joint noises and more challenging joint locking problems.

Consider the following case: An 18-year old female is preparing to go off to college in the fall. Although she is experiencing no pain symptoms associated with her wisdom teeth, her dentist and consulting oral surgeon have made a recommendation to have all four removed, in order to avoid potential problems while she’s away at college.

The patient and her parents are concerned that her recently stabilized TMJ problem (clicking, pain and sporadic morning locking) will flare up as a result of the extraction process. Is this a legitimate concern, or excessive worry?

Since TMJ problems are orthopedic in nature it is logical to assume that a difficult extraction event can cause a managed TMJ problem to resurface. This is particularly relevant if the patient mainly had joint problems that required care. Females more than males are at risk due to the fact that their TMJ structures are biologically more susceptible sprain and strain.

The following is my recommended list of questions that should be discussed before the patient goes ahead with the wisdom teeth extraction.

1. Should the teeth be left in place for a year or two to ensure further healing of the TMJ problem?

2. Should two teeth be taken out initially, instead of all four? (A lengthy surgery could therefore be avoided.)

3. Should a local anesthetic alone be used so that the patient could communicate with the surgeon if in fact she felt that the jaw was being stressed, or should sedation/general anesthetics be used to relax the patient’s muscles and diminish muscle tension due to fear.

4. Should an intravenous steroid be routinely used to minimize any potential muscle/ joint inflammation, which would lead to post extraction pain, and excessive/prolonged limited jaw motion.

Clearly there are no easy answers to these questions. The important message is that if your son or daughter is in this position, please be proactive and ask the difficult questions.

Some more questions to consider:

Is the jaw clicking and/or locking due to instability of the joint ligaments or movement of the shock-absorbing disc?

Are the wisdom teeth impacted in bone, are they fully or partially erupted, and if impacted, are they lying on their sides? (If they are lying on their sides, it will likely require more time and more bone removal to be extracted).

Is there inflammation of the gum tissues surrounding or overlying the wisdom teeth? Or is the plan to remove them designed to prevent possible acute periods of pain while the patient is at school or travelling overseas for an extended period of time?

Is there concern that the erupting wisdom teeth may cause undesirable tooth movement after orthodontics has been completed?

Does the patient’s gender and age make a difference in the outcome?

Patients with TMJ histories must be handled thoughtfully, and with an open mind. Remember, the removal of wisdom teeth is most often an elective procedure. Delaying their extraction may carry with it additional risks, but a patient with a history of TMJ problems, (particularly a young female) is always at risk during the extraction process.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat facial pain associated with jaw problems, and TMJ. Find out more at www.tanenbaumtmj.com

4 Medications For TMJ Problems

February 13, 2014 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

As a TMJ specialist, there are times when medications are an important part of the treatment strategy. Though side effects must be kept in mind, there are medications that are often extremely helpful for short periods of time. So, for many TMJ sufferers,
I have found that there are some medications that work rather well to address pain, muscle tension, and jaw motion restrictions.

However, it’s the way that these medications are used that differentiates their effectiveness. The following information should be very helpful to those considering (or currently) taking medications for a TMJ problem.

1. Advil (Ibuprophen) and Aleve (Naproxen): For pain, particularly when inflammation is present.
Very important! Advil and Aleve are not muscle relaxants, in spite of what many people believe. They are classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and designed to reduce inflammation in joints and muscles. Most important: For individuals who have had jaw problems for an extended period of time, these medications must be taken for 2-4 weeks in order to be maximally beneficial. At the same time, the factors that caused the inflammation must be addressed or the medications will have limited benefit.

For some inflammatory problems associated with the temporomandibular joints specifically, these medications may be necessary for 8-12 weeks just like they would be required for this duration for inflamed and painful knees. Because Advil and Aleve can upset the stomach and kidneys, care must be taken when extended use is prescribed. Alleve has been recently recommended to be the anti-inflammatory of choice for those at risk for a heart attack or have a history of heart problems .

2. Tylenol (Acetaminophen): For pain when inflammation is not present.
Acetaminophen is a different class of drug than Advil and Aleve and is not an anti-inflammatory medication. It is an analgesic that is effective to relieve pain when inflammation is not present. Your doctor must monitor long-term use of Acetaminophen as it can induce headaches and can compromise liver function (particularly in individuals that consume alcohol daily).

3. Muscle Relaxants
Commonly known muscle relaxants are Flexeril, Soma, Skelaxin, Zanaflex and Robaxin. This class of drug can only be obtained with a prescription. Muscle relaxants can be used both during the day and at night before going to bed. Because some people experience fatigue when using them particularly during the day, we often need to try several types to get the right one.

Muscle relaxants can also be used while taking other products such as Aleve, Advil and other prescription anti-inflammatory options. The time frame over which these medications are taken is variable but can be used for many months (particularly when taken only at bedtime).

An added bonus for patients taking muscle relaxants is that they promote restful sleep and can often reduce the intensity of nighttime grinding and clenching of the teeth.

4. Anti-Anxiety Medication
When anxiety and worry are driving muscle tension and pain in the face and jaw it is not uncommon to prescribe small doses of anti-anxiety medications for a short period of time to be taken during the day, at bedtime, or both. These medications work in the brain and help reduce the ability of muscles to “brace” as a consequence of life events, thoughts, and or emotions.

The commonly known medications in this category are Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan. These are controlled substances, available by prescription only, and registered in a national data bank to help prevent overuse and abuse.

When taken at bedtime they are very effective (in short term periods) in reducing tooth grinding and clenching and the consequent symptoms of pain and muscle tension in the morning. My patients often report that anti-anxiety medication “takes the edge of my pain and muscle tension.”

So, for TMJ sufferers, medications have proven to be very helpful in breaking the “pain cycle” and allowing other therapies to begin to work for long-term relief. The key is using the right one, careful monitoring, and short-term use.

Migraine Headaches & TMJ: The Connection

December 3, 2013 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

For years, patients have come to my office with acute and longstanding TMJ problems and report that they have suffered with migraine headaches as well. These problems have in fact been labeled with the term “comorbid,” representing two or more medical conditions existing simultaneously regardless of their causal relationship.

As a result of these patients’ jaw symptoms, treatments such as oral appliances, jaw exercises, muscle trigger point injections and massage/physical therapy have been routinely used. As a result of varied and unpredictable treatment results particularly among my female patients, several things have become clear:

The patients’ TMJ symptoms often did not respond sufficiently to treatment if the migraine headaches were not under control.
Migraine headaches that are under control by the use of medication can become more problematic when an acute TMJ problem is present.
Patients whose migraine headaches are under control actually reported a further decrease in the frequency, duration and intensity of their migraines once TMJ treatment is started.

Though these are anecdotal observations, a recent article in the Journal of Orofacial Pain provides some insight into these observations. Some important factors to keep in mind are:

Patients who have both TMD and migraines have an increased likelihood that the nerves in their face and jaw will fire excessively even when prompted by normal stimuli, such as talking, opening or closing the jaw, eating food of normal consistency, or when the face is placed on a pillow. As a result, the likely emergence of pain and muscle tension increases.
In women with migraines, inflammation in the TM Joints and jaw muscles can produce higher levels of suffering due to the way pain signals from these structures are interpreted in the brain.
TMD pain could reduce the benefit of medications being used to treat migraine headaches.

As a result of these findings, it is now even more important to merge the evaluation and treatment strategies employed by practitioners that focus their practices on these two patient groups. A collaborative approach that can integrate TMJ treatments inclusive of oral appliances, trigger point injections, jaw/neck exercise, massage, and physical self regulation techniques with migraine therapies such as medication, diet, cognitive behavioral, and sleep strategies employed by our medical colleagues is clearly the way to go.

Dr. Donald Tanenbaum is a specialist with offices in New York City and Long Island, NY. He is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat facial pain associated with jaw problems, TMJ, referred pain, nerve pain, and migraines. Find out more at www.tanenbaumtmj.com.

Indoor Cycling Classes Can Cause Jaw Pain and TMJ

November 19, 2013 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

Over the past year in my practice we have seen an increasingly number of female patients who are committed fans of high intensity indoor cycling workouts (sometimes called “spinning”) such as Soul Cycle. They have been arriving complaining of jaw pain, limited jaw motion, and jaw clicking, all the typical signs of TMJ or Temporomandibular Disorder. What we’ve determined is that these popular high intensity indoor cycling programs may be detrimental over time for some women, particularly as they relate to the upper neck muscles.

Indoor Cycling and TMJ – What’s the Connection?

Many TMJ disorders start in the muscles of the head and neck region. Tight, fatigued, and overused neck muscles can cause changes in head position and consequently changes in the tone of jaw muscles and the position of the lower jaw (even when at rest). Over time these subtle changes can cause jaw pain and tightness. In addition, there are trigger points in the neck muscles that when active can refer pain to the jaw and lead to muscle contracture of the jaw muscles, leading to diminished jaw motion and sometimes changes in how the teeth come together.

By working one’s upper body while pedaling a stationary bicycle, the head and jaw posture is often strained in a way that can lead to extreme muscle fatigue. The head weighs about 18 lbs. and in the midst of an intense cycling class this 18 lb. ball is hanging forward and bouncing around. As a result of this challenge to the biomechanics and physiology of the neck, muscle pain and at times even nerve pain, can emerge in the face and jaw, a condition commonly referred to as TMJ.

Case Study: TMJ and Soul Cycle

Knowledge of how the neck works is important in understanding why TMJ problems can be caused by intense indoor cycling classes. My patient Nancy is a perfect example. She is 27 years old and recently came to see me complaining of severe jaw pain, limited jaw motion, and jaw clicking. A thorough interview revealed that the only change in Nancy’s daily routine was the inclusion of three to four Soul Cycle classes per week. Discussion also revealed that she had been experiencing jaw tension during class that often lingered for hours afterward. What started out as a short-term symptom had evolved into even more troublesome problems. I recommended that she give herself a break from Soul Cycle, engage in a short regimen of physical therapy, and take anti-inflammatory medication for a limited period of time. We’re happy to report that today Nancy’s jaw problems have been resolved.

I recognize that intense indoor cycling fitness programs such as Soul Cycle can have tremendous personal and physical benefits. What should be kept in mind is this: many classes every week over a long period of time may actually put your jaw at risk. And what good is a fit body if you can barely open your mouth?

Tinnitus, Facial Pain and TMD – Are They Related?

October 17, 2013 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

It is not uncommon to see patients that present with facial or jaw pains that are not associated with disease, injury or illness of any type. These patients, typically women between the age of 18-55, relate that their pains came on without specific events, emerging spontaneously upon awakening one morning after a fatiguing day or associated with a routine meal, for example. As all medical and dental investigations are unrevealing, answers are searched for and often prompt comments like “there is nothing wrong.”

Over the course of the last several years I have also seen numerous patients present with the same historical account, but instead of suffering with pain they complain of debilitating ear ringing, humming, buzzing and whooshing sounds. For these patients the onset of their ear complaints (often lumped under the term tinnitus) also started for no good reason and prompted multiple tests which were all normal.

So what is going on with these two patient groups that are plagued with symptoms that have no specific origin. How to ease their suffering? From my perspective, the pain and ear noises (tinnitus) represent a specific type of sensory disorder that typically occurs after prolonged periods of challenging life circumstances and emotional distress. In short, these patients consistently relate that they have lost control over their daily existence. As a result, the human brain is upset, and an upset human brain loses its ability to regulate nerve function, muscle tone, heart and breathing rates, and hormonal regulation. The end result is something called sensitization…when normal stimuli are perceived by the brain as noxious (like putting a shirt on after a sunburn).

For the patient with tinnitus, I believe that everyday normal sounds are interpreted as noxious and patients describe their symptoms with variable choices of language, such as humming, ringing, buzzing, hissing, whooshing, and “fullness.” For the patient with facial pain any type of superficial stimulation (a hug, chewing, yawning, or speaking too much) prompts the sensation and experience of pain.

The good news is that with time (months or years) the majority of these patients improve (at times the relief occurs for “no good reason” the same way the symptoms emerged. The key is for these patients to avoid unnecessary and unproven treatments, particularly if surgical explorations are involved. The most useful treatments involve strategies to quiet the mind and body. Programs like the Stop and Breathe Program advocated by Susan Ginsberg have provided relief for patients along with Transcendental Meditation, Biofeedback, Autogenic Training, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation to name just a few. The use of medications like Clonazepam and/or supplements can also be found to be helpful. And, periodic assessments with pain doctors and audiologists are always advised.

TMJ and its Relationship to Ear Problems and Sinus Symptoms

August 12, 2013 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

Many of my TMJ patients also complain of ear problems and sinus symptoms. Is there a relationship between these painful and uncomfortable conditions and TMJ dysfunction? Let’s start with ears.

Ear Problems & TMJ

The experience of ear symptoms in patients with TMJ is very predictable due to a number of factors. Most importantly during growth and development the structures of the ear, the TM Joint and the jaw muscles originate from similar cells and as a result share nerve pathways that can influence muscle tone and performance. For instance, the muscle that determines the size of the Eustachian tube (influences ear pressure) is directly influenced by the same nerve that serves the jaw muscles and TM Joint. As a result, a TMJ problem can lead to changes in the way the Eustachian tube effects the ear, at times leading to symptoms of ear pressure, fullness, clogging, pain and even ringing.

In addition, the tension across the tympanic membrane and the position of the malleus bone can also be altered in patients with TMJ. As a result ear symptoms can emerge and linger. Ringing ears or tinnitus is only occasionally related to TMJ problems. A relationship may exist when the tinnitus changes during jaw movements and or eating. If the tinnitus (pitch and intensity) does not change as a result of jaw function and remains constant on a daily basis it is unlikely that TMJ therapy can help.

Sinus Symptoms & TMJ

With regard to sinus symptoms it is common for patients with TMJ to complain of pain and pressure in their sinuses, despite the fact that there is no sinus disease, infection, or inflammation. The reason is due to mechanisms of referral, where the site of the symptom is not the origin of the symptom. Jaw muscles in particular can refer pain to the sinus region often making a diagnosis difficult. Muscles that are tight, inflamed, and fatigued due to overuse behaviors and sleep bruxism commonly lead to sinus symptoms. As a result TMJ therapy that reduces muscle problems often leads to the relief of the reported sinus symptoms. Some common treatments include jaw exercises; jaw muscle conditioning, massage, bite plates, and injection/needling therapy that relax tense overworked muscles.

The bottom line is that if a patient seeks care with ear and or sinus symptoms that have no apparent relationship to disease, injury or illness, then there is a good chance that an underlying TMJ problem may be responsible.

Can A Mattress Cause TMJ?

August 6, 2013 — by Dr. Donald Tanenbaum

Is there a connection between your choice of a mattress and TMJ problems?

While there aren’t a lot of studies that probe the relationship between one’s choice of a mattress and TMJ pain, it’s fair to speculate that choices that prompt more restful and predictably sound sleep are obviously advantageous.

With regard to choosing a mattress there are a number of options provided on the showroom floor of any decent-sized mattress company, and they all vary according to personal tastes. From natural and organic feather beds, to hypoallergenic materials, from old fashion coils and springs to memory foam and electronic Posturepedics, there is a mattress for every body type, weight, and co-sleeping situation.

How can your mattress choice affect TMJ, though? Bottom line is, if you already have trouble sleeping, either from insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic body pain, or tooth grinding, you never want to compound the problem with a mattress that makes you toss and turn all night.

While there may not be a lot research into mattresses and TMJ, there is research to support a relationship between sleep quality and sleep quantity with the potential onset of TMJ pain problems. Whichever mattress you choose, make sure it’s not a source of irritation that can prevent sleep or roust you from your sleep in the middle of the night. Poor sleep can lead to excess jaw clenching, grinding, and jaw muscle tightening.

We commonly hear people complain that they wake up with their hands clenched, teeth together, and shoulders raised. Could this be the symptom of a poor mattress disturbing sleep? Something to think about.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve experienced a better night’s sleep after thoroughly researching and settling on the right mattress for you.