There are a few things you can do to try to reduce your risk of
developing TMD. These include: Stress and anxiety can cause you
to develop habits (such as jaw clenching, tooth grinding, gum
chewing) that predispose you to TMD. Learn effective ways to
relieve stress , so that you won’t develop potentially
detrimental habits. These nervous habits can increase your risk
of TMD. Learn other ways of dealing with stress. You may also
want to talk to your dentist about wearing a night guard, a
plastic device that is worn at night to reduce harmful effects
of grinding your teeth. Frequent gum chewing may make you more
prone to TMD by over-exercising your jaw joint. Make sure you
take appropriate precautions to avoid injuring your jaw because
jaw injuries increase your risk of developing TMD. Wear mouth
guards for contact sports, helmets for riding sports, and always
wear your seatbelt when in a car. If you’re an adult, ride in
cars that have air bags. - Reviewer: Peter Lucas, MD - Review
Date: 10/2012 - - Update Date