TMD Do’s and Don’ts To Get You Through the Holiday Season

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, Patient Education, TMD

When living with TMD, it can be difficult to remember what is beneficial and what can be a trigger for the disorder. While receiving professional help for TMD, we will provide you with methods to cause relief and give a guideline for ways to help you enjoy your daily life. We understand that, during this special holiday time, it can be easy to succumb to the pressures and indulge in an activity that might not be the best to support your TMD issues. We have compiled a list of recommendations to help you remember how to help yourself and what you should avoid.

A Holiday I Bet You Didn’t Know About

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, Patient Education

December is here, which means the holiday season is in full swing. Although the holidays will be a little different this year, with cancelled holiday parties and family get-togethers, many of the stressors of the holiday will still remain. We can all appreciate and look forward to the new year quickly approaching. Besides being eager to say goodbye to the year that we have had, there is another fun reason to welcome the new year. Continue reading to learn about a little-known fun holiday celebrated on January 3rd.

This Time Of Year Can Be Worse For TMD Sufferers

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, TMD

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! If you sang those popular lyrics in your head while reading, then you are one of the many who are starting preparations for the upcoming holiday season. While the holiday season can leave many filled with joy, it is well known that the holidays can also be a huge cause of stress for many. Sitting around a Thanksgiving table with your uncle questioning your life decisions or shopping for hours, either in person or online, for the perfect holiday gift can leave anyone’s jaw twitching in discomfort. For those that suffer with TMD, it can be even worse. Read on to learn some techniques to manage your TMD during the stressful holiday season.

Helpful Ways to Deal With Stress

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, TMD

Stress and anxiety are common experiences for most people. In fact, approximately 70% of adults in the United States say they feel stress or anxiety daily. This is further heightened by the events that have transpired over the past few months. Individuals who have never experienced stress before are confused about what they are feeling. Stress is how the body reacts to and handles harmful situations, but ongoing stress can manifest in physical ways, like teeth clenching. Clenching teeth puts additional strain on the jaw muscles and increases the pressure on the jaw joint. Symptoms experienced can range from a sore jaw, muscle pain, tooth pain, or headaches as a result. Those who experience issues with TMD need to be particularly mindful of their stress levels. A recent article in The New York Times, mentions all of these symptoms and more as they relate to stress in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. Learning to manage stress can help relieve these symptoms.

The Relationship Between Sleep and Energy

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, Patient Education, Sleep Apnea

Do you find that there are days your body feels energized and other days your body feels so sluggish you can’t imagine how you will make it through the day? Maybe your body feels great, but you are having a difficult time focusing on a task and feel your mind wandering. A Harvard Health Publishing article discusses how there is a direct relationship between sleep and the energy level you are feeling the next day. Read on to find out more.

Chronic Headaches

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, Patient Education

What makes your head hurt? There are many causes for headaches, and it’s important to understand what they are in order to treat patients properly. One type of headache we often see in our patients is of vascular origin. There are nerve endings around the blood vessels that cushion and protect the brain from injury. When the blood vessels swell, they push against the brain causing a vascular headache. A migraine would be one example of this, where the nerve endings are hyper sensitized by a stimulus such as jaw joint inflammation or inflammation of the nose and sinuses.

Meet Mackenzie

Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, Team

When you visit our office, you may meet with some of our team members, but you may not know just how awesome they are! Our team is integral in helping patients like you get the TMD and sleep apnea therapy they need in order to lead healthier lives. I count on them every day to bring their A game, and they never disappoint. This month, I’d like to highlight Mackenzie Jakola, our New Patient Coordinator and Marketing Manager. You’ve probably seen her around the office, but I’d love for you to get to know her a little better. Read on to learn more.