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TMJ

What is Acupuncture For

TMJ?

Acupuncture is a widely practiced form of Chinese medicine that is highly effective for the treatment of TMJ or Temporomandibular joint. It relieves pain and discomfort by relaxing muscles and releasing endorphins and discomfort by relaxing muscles and releasing endorphins and serotonin hormone that promotes feelings of well-being.
TMJ

Symptom Relief

TMJ promotes Stiffness and tension in the area of the neck and shoulders. People with TMJ disorders have the most common complaint which includes :
  • . Pain in cheeks
  • . Jaw clicking
  • . Popping of jaw bones
  • . Limited movement of the jaw
  • . Clenching of jaw
  • . Grinding teeth at night and tooth pain
  • . Ear pain and headache, migraine
  • . Stiffness in neck and shoulder
How Does

Acupuncture Work?

There are lots of acupuncture professionals who use this treatment for TMJ pain and treat TMJ disorder. While treating acupuncture needles are inserted around the face, neck, ear, and jaw. These TMJ trigger points can cause headache, and facial pain restrict range of motion in the jaw. These needles can be placed on other acupuncture points on the body such as the knee, elbow, and big toe. 

Specific acupuncture points correlated with specific functions.The professionals treat a large number of cases who are suffering from neck and jaw pain. And receiving great results.

Does Acupuncture Help

TMJ?

Acupuncture for TMJ relieves the pain and discomfort that is caused by muscles and releases endorphins and serotonin. As per the study dental patients who are taking treatment of acupuncture for TMJ reduced their pain Intensity by 75%.

Improve the action of the muscles that open and close the jaw by using facial acupuncture points to stimulate the temporalis muscle. Releasing TMJ trigger points in the masseter, lateral/medial pterygoid, and temporalis muscles can help to reduce pain and increase the range of motion in the TMJ.

It reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Acupuncture relaxes the muscles of the jaw and face which are often contracted when you are stressed. It also helps to regulate the production and release of hormones involved in the stress response (cortisol, noradrenaline, serotonin) to help the body cope with stress better.

What are

other acupuncture techniques?

Other acupuncture techniques include
  • . Moxibustion (application of heat)
  • . Chinese massage (Tui Na)
  • . Exercise
  • . Diet
  • . Herbs
  • . Cupping (where a cup is applied to the skin, and the pressure in the cup is decreased, drawing the skin and muscles up into the cup).
What alternative treatments are available for

TMJ?

Alternative treatments that have been shown to relieve chronic pain over time include:

Medications
Along with other nonsurgical treatments, different medication options can help relieve the pain associated with TMJ disorders:

Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories
Medications are not helpful to relieve TMJ pain when the pain is over the counter. Professional mat describes a stronger pain reliever for a limited time.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Such a kind of medication is mostly used in the treatment of depression but sometimes in pain relief and sleeplessness, this medication is used in low doses.
Muscle relaxants
A muscle relaxant is sometimes used for a few days or week to relieve the pain During the treatment of TMJ.

Therapies
Various therapists like Oral splints or mouth guards, Physical therapy, and counseling are also found helpful in this treatment.

How to Get

Acupuncture

Chinese Medicine practitioners believe that the energy that flows through the body qi. These qi disruptions can create imbalances in the body that lead to illness.

Acupuncture practitioners use needles that touch acupuncture points throughout the body. Hundreds of acupoints in the body along with 14 major meridians. They are called the energy-carrying channels.

If you want to do acupuncture treatment, always go with an experienced licensed acupuncturist. Medical professionals also get some extra training to do acupuncture treatment.

What To Expect

During An Acupuncture Session

Acupuncture can help you to reduce the pain of TMJ. If you have decided to take an acupuncture treatment, you need to book an appointment. Once you book an appointment with an acupuncture professional, you need to fill out the quick online form that includes your details and any medical conditions you face before or any allergies. They may ask more specifically about your symptoms of depression. Along with these, you need to give the information about How long you’re facing the problem? What are the effects it causes in your life? During the actual treatment, you will have to sit or lie down on the table. they will insert some needles into the acupuncture point on the area of your body. Typically needles remain inserted in the body for between 22 to 45 minutes, depending on the symptoms of the patient. Acupuncture professionals can include you in your care by providing some homework such as lifestyle recommendations. These treatment sessions may vary depending upon the medical condition of the patient and the time required to be treated or cured.
  • . Floating with a tingling, warm sensation
  • . Heaviness, heat, and cold
How frequently you’ll need to receive acupuncture depends on what you are seeking relief from. If you have a chronic issue, you may need to go more frequently than if you have an acute problem.
During The

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture points are situated in all areas of the body. Sometimes the appropriate points are far removed from the area of your pain.

Your acupuncture practitioner will tell you the general site of the planned treatment and whether you need to remove any clothing. A gown, towel, or sheet will be provided. You lie on a padded table for the treatment, which involves:

Needle insertion.

Acupuncture needles are inserted into various depths at strategic points on your body. The needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort. People often don't feel them inserted at all. The typical treatment uses 5 to 20 needles. You may feel a mild aching sensation when a needle reaches the correct depth.

Needle manipulation.

Your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles after placement or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to the needles.

Needle removal.

In most cases, the needles remain in place for 10 to 15 minutes while you lie still and relax. There is usually no discomfort when the needles are removed.

Uses of

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can regulate energy flow throughout the body. It stimulates the production of endorphins that are essential for mental health and well-being. Endorphins Are nothing but the “feel good” chemicals released in the human brain. Acupuncture stimulates digestion function, improves blood pressure levels, reduces pain and normalizes heart rates. It is a worthwhile treatment of depression in pregnant women, It is used as a cognitive behavioral therapy on its own or in combination with other forms of treatment, In order to treat the symptoms of depression.

Risks

Most data tell us that acupuncture is safe, but we should consider the risk of this treatment. The side effects of it are mild or rare. A patient will experience: 

  • Bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Pain during and after acupuncture

If the patients have any history of allergies should inform the acupuncturist. Metal needles, a chemical that is used to clean the skin may cause an allergic reaction.

Results

Every time it is difficult to measure the benefits of acupuncture in the pain of TMJ, but it is noticed that many people find it helpful as it helps to control many painful conditions. Acupuncture gives the best results for the people who expect it to work. Due to some side effects, It is worth trying if you are having symptoms of depression and feel it difficult to control it with your conventional methods.

Acupuncture has few side effects, so it may be worth a try if you’re having trouble controlling pain with more-conventional methods.

FAQ's

How many acupuncture treatments are needed for TMJ?
In an earlier study, 85% of patients receiving acupuncture for TMJ saw a 75% reduction in pain levels after just three treatments. Acupuncture for TMJ research continues to show the benefits of this complementary medical approach to treating chronic pain conditions.
What are the points treated in TMJ treatment by acupuncture?
The Traditional Acupuncture Points we often needle are local points on the face or jaw: ST 5, ST 6, ST 7 GB 2, SJ 17. These are on the Stomach, Gallbladder, and San Jiao channels. We also needle-specific facial muscles to trigger the tight muscle fibers to release.
Which is the most successful treatment for TMJ?
Bite guards are the most widely recommended treatment for moderate TMJ symptoms. Studies reveal that splints can reduce TMJ pain and the risk of long-term side effects is minimal. There are two main types of dental splint, a TMJ mouth guard, and a bruxism (tooth grinding) mouth guard.
Can acupuncture help a clicking jaw?
Acupuncture treatment can also help the muscles involved with jaw function to relax, alleviating the “clicking” or “popping” associated with TMJ disorders.
What are the benefits of acupuncture jaw?
Often TMD is due to underlying stress held in the jaw or contracted muscles in the jaw and face. Acupuncture can help you relax these targeted muscles and decrease the overall stress level in the body to relieve TMJ discomfort. The best care of TMD requires effective lifestyle changes.

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Healing Pain and Balancing the Body Through Acupuncture
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