Mark (Chicago, IL) on 04/21/2023
It's like clockwork, I run out of my bottle of biotin and within 2 weeks I'll have jaw pain again. It's possible that one of my other supplements depletes biotin. I take magnesium, boron/zinc, b vitamins, fish oils, collagen, mushroom powders, heart/circulation supplements like serrapeptase/nattokinase, and various nootropics so it would be hard to isolate what exactly is depleting the biotin. But I definitely need Biotin regularly. The 300 mcg in the B-complex supplements isn't enough. I take an 8mg pill at least a few times a week.
Lori (Phoenix, Az) on 09/23/2021
I have been clenching my jaw when I sleep for years and I have been told by most health providers that it’s stress-related. I would always disagree in my mind - “yes I’m experiencing stress but this isn’t caused by stress”. I’ve been searching for an answer for years. I finally had a sleep test about 6 years ago and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. Huh well……maybe my jaw clenching was stabilizing my airway to continue breathing while I slept. That’s a good thing - right? So I got a night guard for my teeth and figured at least I was mostly breathing at night. The curiosity continued however because there was no reason to have sleep apnea. My weight is height-appropriate and I don’t have food allergies.
I finally just had my amalgams safely removed and my jaw didn’t clench starting that very first night. In the past, as I was falling asleep, sometimes I would catch my jaw snapping shut like a snapping turtle. And it was involuntary. Now I am sleeping without clenching. And I don’t think I have sleep apnea either. At least my Fitbit shows adequate O2 levels during sleep (not sure how it knows that but it says it does).
I can’t explain all of it physiologically but this is my experience for what it’s worth.
Rob (Kentucky) on 06/22/2021
So, next we tried applying Dr. Christopher's SenSei Menthol Ointment (if you are not familiar with this product, imagine vick’s salve, tigerbalm and icy hot combined times 100! ) to the side of her jaw, neck and around her ear.
I then made up an oil compress of thieve’s oil to be placed inside her mouth (placed between her back tooth gum line of her jaw and cheek). As close to the temporomandibular joint area as possible. The compress will release its oils over the hour so it will absorb into the jaw area.
Then I had her lay down for the night. She woke-up as if nothing had ever happened.
Mix oils in a small bowl with your finger then soak it up with the cottonball.
Note: I am trying this on myself tonite for fluid in my inner ear that won’t go away. If it works, I’ll post results.
Frankincense Essential Oil for TMJ Pain Mama to Many (TN) on 03/13/2021
Unfortunately, this week I forgot my appliance one night and the next night I forgot to take magnesium. The pain was really bothering me. I was getting ready to watch a movie with my kids. (I tend to be tense when watching even kid movies and thought that this was probably not going to be good for my jaw.) I decided to put some frankincense essential oil on my face in front of my ears, over the jaw joints just because. It is an oil that always surprises me at its many uses.
After the movie I realized my jaw did not hurt anymore!
Yesterday my daughter woke up with a stiff neck. I was sure to include frankincense in my remedies to help relief her pain. (Also used arnica, ibuprofen, and quercetin/bromelain supplements.) She was much better today.
It is important to use a quality frankincense oil. My favorite brand is Hopewell. It is excellent quality for a reasonable price.
~Mama to Many~
Mama to Many (TN) on 01/29/2019
There are certain foods I have to avoid or it will aggravate my jaw joint - especially bagels and popcorn. Well, I have been eating a lot of salads and raw carrots lately and think that set me off this time around.
My jaw was almost locked shut and I was in so much pain. I have had TMJ for 30 years and learned some new things last week that really helped me! First, my primary doctor recommended trying some you tube videos to release the muscles. I was skeptical but desperate. After the first video my jaw was already more relaxed and seemed to be back in place. I have continued the exercises on these two videos several times a day for the last week. My pain is much better and my range of motion is retored to about 60% of normal. Which beat 10% of normal last week.
A few years ago I had seen online about using a special device to hold the jaw in place while sleeping. I couldn't find that this last week. But I did find that a chin strap used to help people stop snoring is used by some for TMJ. It works by holding your mouth closed. I thought this would help me because I wake up with my jaw tight and uncomfortable in the wrong position. I didn't want to wait to have one shipped and the local drugstore didn't carry this.
I decided to try a make shift version. I used a wide knit stretchy headband. I put it on my head from my chin to the crown of my head. It was snug but not uncomfortable. I wake up with my jaw feeling pretty good instead of extra stiff. I was thrilled to find two free things to help improve. I am still eating only soft foods and avoiding talking to much. I do take magnesium every night. If I don't I am sure to have jaw pain when I wake up. I have done this for years.
Here are the videos I used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVWPlYbONMk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKxs81wJj2I ~Mama to Many~
Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 10/05/2017
I had her take magnesium before bed last night. This morning I asked how her ear pain was. She smiled and said it didn't hurt at all. We talked about the connecting between clenching the teeth and ear pain and TMJ pain. Her sister, who shares a room with her, confirmed that she does indeed clench her teeth at night.
I believe teeth clenching (bruxism) is a symptom of magnesium deficiency.
I only gave her 3/4 teaspoon of Natural Calm, which was about 120 mg of magnesium, which isn't really that much.
If I forget to take magnesium before bed I will clench my teeth at night and wake up with jaw pain. Once I forgot it two nights in a row and I had so much radiating pain that I thought all of my teeth had abscessed (overnight, right? :) ) Resuming magnesium at night resolved the teeth pain.
~Mama to Many~
Lili (Los Angeles) on 05/04/2015
Simon (England) on 11/24/2014
Thank you for your incredible website. It is just the best. I have tried to support it every way I can, buying books etc. Could you send me a link to Ted's TMJ remedy? I can't find it. Thank you so much. Simon
Michie (NYC, NY) on 10/16/2014
Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 04/21/2014
My daughter, who is almost 12, was having some pain in her TM joint. She would wake up with her jaw hurting. One day, it hurt so much she didn't go to choir practice. (She loves to sing so I knew it must be bad.) I went through this as a teen and young adult, ending with surgery, which I surely hope to spare her from. I checked here at EC and found that Magnesium helps many with TMJ. I got some Natural Calm and she takes a teaspoon in water before bed. It has helped so much! If she forgets, sometimes her jaw will hurt some. She has not missed choir in a month since starting on magnesium.
When she was younger, she did grind her teeth at night. (Perhaps she still does and I haven't noticed in a while.) I don't know if this is related or not. I did notice that magnesium was used for TMJ and Bruxism, which is why it made sense to me to try that first.
~Mama to Many~
Pangloss (Tennessee, Usa) on 01/09/2014
Remember, your mileage may vary! If you take iodine and get tension, palpitations, runny nose, frontal headache - back off, you are taking too much for your present needs!
Oldriska (Prague, Czech Republic) on 05/16/2012
Jayeshgala83 (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 09/16/2011
Relief (Sd, Usa) on 01/22/2011
Antares (Tamuning, Guam) on 08/18/2010
Tmj (Stamford, Ct) on 12/24/2009
I have been suffering from TMJ disorder for the past 9 months. I get pain in my temples, jaw joint, Cheeks, neck, back, and sometime my tongue. I get ringing sounds in my ears too. I have read about oil pulling in your website posts and am eager to know more about it. Is there any more specific information such as the type of oil to be used, any specific schedule to be followed. Apart from oil pulling, are there any other ways to attack the problem.
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Khloe R. (Fresno, Ca) on 12/23/2009
Lon (Stanhope, Nj) on 08/12/2009
Bev (Long Beach, CA/USA) on 05/04/2009
Robin (Near Toledo, Ohio) on 04/14/2009
I then start yoga practice and I think releasing the stored tension in my body was key. (the fish, the cobra, the scorpion, the bow, the wheel, and the camel were beneficial, stretching the entire front of the body, plus I would jut out my chin in doing some of these to increase the stretch in the neck/jaw area. Mind you, to be healthy, you need to do opposite stretches to keep the body in balance, like the standing forward bend, the shoulder stand, the child's pose, seated forward bend, etc.) After practicing for a few months, I noticed that I no longer clenched at night or during the day and the headaches were gone. Of course, stress was a trigger too, I was married to an emotional abuser and control freak plus suffered from chronic sinusitis every other week for years.
It's interesting that Ted talks of an alkaline ph in reference to chelating heavy metals linked to TMJ. I also have adrenal fatigue and thyroid resistance, both of which call for minerals (magnesium, etc.) to heal from. Additionally, I have a mouth full of metal fillings and have suspected mercury toxicity as a contributor to the CFIDS, Fibromyalgia, etc that I am challenged with as well. I would have the taste of a metal spoon in my mouth constantly when I had the TMJ really bad.
Blessings,
Robin
