Bridge To Wellness

Bruxism ( grinding teeth)
TMJ  (TemporoMandibular Joint, or the jaw joint.)

This is a new type of  Mouth Guard  BiteSoft that I was fitted for by my Dentist Dr. Gary Prisand  1380 Hooper Ave. Toms River, NJ.
It is clear and much more comfortable then the one I had before.  If you ever suffer from TMJ or Bruxism this would be a great mouth guard to use.

As you can see it is very small and you really don’t see it when it is in your mouth.

Who is Affected by TMJDs?:

Approximately 35 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems. While both men and women experience TMJ problems, the majority of those seeking treatment are women in their childbearing years.

Causes:

Not all causes are known. Some possible causes or contributing factors are injuries to the jaw area, various forms of Arthritis, dental procedures, genetics, hormones, low-level infections, auto-immune diseases, stretching of the jaw as occurs with inserting a breathing tube before surgery, and clenching or grinding of the teeth.

Stress — Teeth grinding or clenching is often the result of stress. Not that women necessarily have more stress than men, but it is a significant contributing factor to TMJ syndrome.

Medical Conditions — Arthritis is also one of the causes of TMJ. As arthritis is more common in women, it would make sense that they would make up a larger percentage of TMJ cases related to arthritis. Women who suffer from fibromyalgia also often have TMJ pain.

Hormones — Research suggests a link between estrogen, pain and jaw joints. Scientists have found estrogen receptors in the temporomandibular joints of baboons, while none were found in males. Studies have also shown that women who undergo hormone replacement therapy or take oral contraceptives are more likely to report jaw pain.

Joint Structure — Some believe the collagen that holds the disk in place between the joint’s ball and socket in women is different from men. This may cause more women to have dislocated disks, which can trigger TMJ.

Vitamin Deficiencies — Several conditions linked to magnesium deficiencies have been found to be more common among women, including TMJ syndrome. There is a possibility that menstruation contributes to some vitamin deficiencies, which may explain why TMJ affects women in their childbearing years.