February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
How Should You Deal with TMJ?
If you suffer from TMJ, you could be suffering quite a bit. Some people find it difficult to chew certain foods, others wake up with an aching jaw from grinding their teeth all night and some hear a clicking noise when they open and close their jaw. Regardless of the level of your TMJ, it can be embarrassing and painful to deal with on a daily basis. At Cooper Family Dentistry it is our goal to help you not only have optimal oral health, but to be comfortable as well. If you suffer from TMJ, there are several ways that you can alleviate your pain.
Home Remedies
If you prefer to try to handle your pain on your own, there are several methods that you can use at home. Since stress in the jaw is a large culprit in the fight against TMJ, it is important to find the best stress reduction technique that works for you. A few of the simplest methods include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Sleeping enough every night
- Focusing on the positives in your life
- Consuming a healthy diet
- Maintaining proper posture
For mild cases of TMJ, these methods might be enough to limit your stress and decrease your pain. In more severe cases, however, a more advanced method of stress management might be necessary, including:
- Acupuncture
- Professional massage
- Biofeedback
- Ultrasound of the jaw
What we can Do
If your pain is not brought on by stress or is not relieved by any of these methods, it might be necessary to come in to see us and evaluate your teeth to see if you are grinding them. Some people grind their teeth during the day and know it, while others grind at night and are completely unaware that they have this bad habit. If you are grinding your teeth, we can help you prevent this from occurring by fitting you for a mouth guard that gets worn at night while you are sleeping. The mouth guard can prevent your teeth from grinding, allowing you to relax your jaw and get a better night’s sleep.
If you suffer from chronic pain in your jaw, it is important that you come into our dental office to be evaluated. We can help you discover the reason that you might suffer from TMJ as well as the appropriate treatment.
Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.
Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.