Pain secondary to opioids?
Collaboration of Nadia Gomez. Opioids Opioids are very potent and effective drugs; they are traditionally used for both acute and chronic pain conditions. However, opioids commonly cause vigorous side effects, some of which are likely to become lethal. The opioid signaling system has the greatest…
Drug Induced Dry Mouth
Collaboration of Nadia Gomez. Saliva is of vital importance for the maintenance of oral health, including the lubrication and repair of oral tissues, oral acid neutralization, maintenance, enamel in children, tooth remineralization, digestion, and speech. Systemic disorders can result in salivary gland dysfunction, for instance:…
Understanding your jaw joints’ clicking and locking
What is Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) Disc Displacement? To understand Disc Displacement, we need to talk a little about Jaw joints, also known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ is the joint articulating the jawbone (mandibular condyle) to the skull bone (glenoid fossa). A fibrocartilage articular disc…
Let’s move the jaw! Hinge Axis Exercise
In some cases, the clinician might relate your limited mouth opening to a decreased amount of synovial fluid, an essential lubricant inside the jaw joints. There is an exercise called Hinge Axis that helps improving function and lubrication of the jaw joints. Why to do…
Jaw rest position and stretch: The power of “N”
What are the differences between the “N” stretch and “N” position? “N” stretch exercise is different from the “N” position. As the name indicate, “N” stretch is an exercise that stretches your closing masticatory muscles. This self-management exercise is recommended to manage several TMD conditions, include limited…
Thermal Therapy (heat and ice packs)
A home-based protocol for temporomandibular disorders involves the use of thermal therapy*. HEAT PACK Be sure the temperature is comfortable, testing the heat pack in your wrists. There is no need to burn the skin! Moist heat has better penetration and will give you better…
Suffering from chronic head and neck muscle pain
Chronic Head and Neck muscle pain can present as Myalgia or Myofascial Pain. Myalgia is when pain is localized at a specific site within a particular muscle. However, when pain is spreading to other muscles, it is known as Myofascial Pain. Spreading of the pain…