Best Foods for TMJ in Bergen County

Growing up many of our parents would always call us out for slouching in our seats. “Sit up because it’s not polite to slouch.” As we get older we begin to realize that not only is slouching impolite, but it can also be the root of numerous health problems.

Many residents of Passaic, NJ were probably told this at one point or another, and with us now living in such a digital age we are always slouching in our seats or on the couch watching TV, or hanging out on your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the body. In addition to moving up and down it also moves forward, back and side to side. When these muscles work incorrectly the joins often pop or lock which results in frequent cramps or spasms.

One of the best ways to manage TMJ pain is to improve your posture. Maintaining good posture throughout the day (especially for those who spend a lot of time sitting down on the computer due to school or work) is a great way to manage TMJ pain.

Some easy ways to improve your posture and prevent TMJ pain is by doing the following:
• When sitting down have your back pressed against the back of your chair. This is the simplest way to avoid slouching and has the biggest impact
• Make sure as you are walking your head is straight forward and aligned. The best way to do this is by imagining you are balancing a book on top of your head.
• Move as often as you can. By participating in physical activity you can drastically improve your TMJ pain and get your muscles and joints moving!
• Take time to stretch. Along with being active be sure that you are stretching out your muscles and joints, especially in your back and neck.

Another great way to maintain your TMJ pain is by seeing a professional. At The Migraine Center of NJ near Passaic, NY we diagnose and treatment patients who are suffering with TMJ disorder. We recognize that TMJ pain can cause severe migraines and headaches due to the misalignment of the joints in the back and neck.

If you’re ready to leave behind the pain of chronic headaches and migraines contact Dr. Milestone at The Migraine Center of New Jersey near Passaic, NJ. To get started on your treatment, book an examination with us at 201-845-8411 – we want to help you reach a higher quality of life, TMJ pain free!

Migraines can cause major disruptions to your day to day lives, causing an intense throbbing or pulsing sensation in one area of the head. Migraines go far beyond head pain other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light/sound all play a role in this difficult pain.

At The Migraine Center of NJ, we want to encourage our patients to know how to handle their migraines at home when they come about. Here are a few tips to help treat your migraines.

Embrace the darkness.
Because migraines cause sensitivity to light, lay down in a dark room. Turn off the lights and give your eyes a break. Your head is sure to thank you.

Drink a caffeinated beverage.
It’s helpful to drink a caffeinated beverage like coffee or soda when you are struggling with a migraine. Another major help that has caffeine in it is Tylenol or aspirin. Any pain reliever will help ease your head pains.

Go to sleep.
Sleeping is just about the best medicine for any common pain or condition. Give your body the rest it deserves, especially when you are suffering from a migraine or severe head pain. Establishing a regular sleeping routine is also a great way to prevent migraines.

Your diet makes a difference.
Nutrition goes for everything in life. It assists in maintaining good health and preventing diseases. Plus, eating good foods tastes great, and that’s exactly what we all need. Make sure that your eating habits are consistent throughout the day and that you’re not skipping meals. Maintaining healthy eating patterns is a great way to prevent and treat migraines.

The Migraine Center of NJ near Rutherford, NJ is a leading migraine and headache doctor in New Jersey. Dr. Milestone and his staff of medical professionals can provide state-of-the-art, drug-free pain relief for migraines, headaches, TMJ and sleep apnea to help patients get back on track!

If you suffer from constant migraine pain or headaches, contact our office today or schedule an appointment so we can assist in your migraine treatment.

At The Migraine Center of New Jersey, Dr. Matthew Milestone and his staff provide headache relief, migraine relief, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) relief and sleep apnea relief without depending on drug therapy. Through the TruDenta® pain relief system, you can be in control of your healing process and live the life you’ve always wanted — one free of pain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports,

• Headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system.
• It has been estimated that almost half of the adult population have had a headache at least once within the last year.
• Headache disorders, which are characterized by recurrent headache, are associated with personal and societal burdens of pain, disability, damaged quality of life, and financial cost.
• Worldwide, a minority of people with headache disorders are diagnosed appropriately by a health-care provider.
• Headache has been underestimated, under-recognized and under-treated throughout the world.

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches are painful and debilitating and according to the WHO are:

• A primary headache disorder.
• Migraine most often begins at puberty and affects most those aged between 35 and 45 years.
• It is more common in women, usually by a factor of about 2 to 1, because of hormonal influences.
• It is caused by the activation of a mechanism deep in the brain that leads to the release of pain-producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head.
• Migraine is a recurrent, often life-long challenge that is characterized by recurring attacks.

Migraine headaches often are triggered by allergies, stress, smoking, alcohol, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, skipping meals, dehydration, irregular sleep, poor posture, low blood sugar and hormonal fluctuations.

Symptoms that are associated with migraine headaches typically include:

• Moderate or severe head pain
• Hemispherical pain (pain experienced only on one side of the body or the head)
• Throbbing
• Exacerbated by routine physical activity
• Lasting several hours or up to 2-3 days
• Nausea (the most common symptom associated with a migraine headache)
• Occurring anywhere from once a year to once a week

Some home remedies for migraine headaches include:

Apple cider vinegar—a nutritional powerhouse in so many ways, cider vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey is known to ease the pain associated with a migraine headache.

Peppermint—with natural anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint helps soothe frayed nerves with its fragrance and refreshing taste.

Ice—numbs the pain by constricting blood vessels that are dilated (swollen) or throbbing.

Chamomile—famously an ingredient in herbal tea, chamomile has natural anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that can help to ease the pain of a migraine headache.

Ginger—prostaglandins (chemicals that cause muscles to contract and blood vessels to inflame) are effectively blocked by ginger by sipping ginger tea or even chewing on a piece of raw ginger root.

Cayenne pepper—the hot stuff stimulates circulation and improves blood flow. Cayenne pepper gets its kick from capsaicin, a compound that acts as a natural pain killer.

Home remedies for migraine headache pain are effective in the short term, but a migraine headache sufferer should be seen by a qualified professional like the team at Migraine Center of New Jersey. Choose Dr. Matthew Milestone, the migraine and headache doctor in New Jersey who provides state-of-the-art, drug-free pain relief for migraines, headaches, TMJ and sleep apnea to help you get your life back.

If you are looking for an effective migraine headache relief as a resident of Westchester County, New York, we have some good news for you.
At The Migraine Center of New Jersey, Dr. Milestone and his staff provide headache relief, migraine relief, TMJ relief and sleep apnea relief without depending on drug therapy. Through the TruDenta® pain relief system, you can be in control of your healing process and live the life you’ve always wanted — one free of pain.
Our highly trained pain treatment physicians care about improving your pain and quality of life.

We look forward to helping those with chronic, severe headaches and migraines find relief. For each patient, a specific plan is tailored to help alleviate their pain. For more information on how Migraine Center of NJ can help treat your Headache pain, please contact us at 201-845-8411.

If you are looking for an effective migraine headache treatment as a resident of Westchester County, New York, we have some good news for you.

At The Migraine Center of New Jersey, Dr. Milestone and his staff provide headache relief, migraine relief, TMJ relief and sleep apnea relief without depending on drug therapy. Through the TruDenta® pain relief system, you can be in control of your healing process and live the life you’ve always wanted — one free of pain.
Our highly trained pain treatment physicians care about improving your pain and quality of life. For more information on how Migraine Center of NJ can help treat your Headache pain, please contact us at 201-845-8411.

Orthodontics is most often considered a medical specialty that deals primarily with the cosmetic improvement in the alignment of our teeth. Orthodontists like Dr. Matthew Milestone of The Migraine Center of NJ in Essex County, NJ are experienced professionals who work to make our smiles straight and appealing and functional and healthy. But it’s the straight and appealing part of the deal that is the real payoff in orthodontics, right? Well, for some people, a straight smile is not the be-all and end-all of orthodontic treatment.

Looking Good.

Most folks don’t know that many patients being treated by orthodontists believe that their successful treatment outcomes are more than just their straight smile. Dr. Matthew Milestone says that crooked teeth, narrow bite arches, overbites and underbites may all contribute to the cause of chronic headaches, and many orthodontics patients are being treated as part of a program of pain management and remediation. These patients are working to improve the alignment, spacing, or bite function of their teeth in attempt to ease the pain they feel due to headaches and migraines.

Our teeth are just the most visible part of an interconnected physiology. The whole dental system is made of soft tissues (like your gums), bone, skeletal support structures (like ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels), and muscles all working together in concert to bring you a functional set of teeth. Knowing this, it is not unreasonable to think that some headaches may have their trigger in outstanding or untreated orthodontic issues.

Feeling Good.

All too often, pain management efforts involve taking painkillers to chase the pain. But painkillers have shown to be a pain management method that comes with significant side effects and risks. Painkillers, too, simply ease the symptom (the pain) but don’t address the cause of the issue. That’s where your orthodontist may be able to help. One Migraine Center of NJ associate mentions that when teeth and jaws don’t work together efficiently and effectively, tension exists within the dental structure – and this tension can lead to headaches, neck pain, back and shoulder discomfort, and even migraine headaches. Clenching and/or grinding your teeth and popping and clicking of the jaw joint can be alleviated or eliminated with effective orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment with braces is designed to apply gentle pressure to move teeth into their optimal position within the mouth. That allows the top and bottom dental arches to work in unison, shapes the arches into their correct position, allows the teeth to interact functionally and comfortably with their neighboring and oppositional teeth, gives the orthodontist an opportunity to address any skeletal deficiencies that may be present, and for all jaw components to be in good alignment.

Your orthodontist understands the relationship between pain and a malocclusion and how these may contribute to headache pain. An experienced orthodontist like Dr. Matthew Milestone and professional staff at The Migraine Center of NJ in Essex County, NJ can show you how treatment may be able to alieve or eliminate your chronic headache pain. For any questions, concerns, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Matthew Milestone, feel free to call 973-325-1777.

Foods that Can Trigger Headache Symptoms

The pain of a typical headache is something most people have experienced at some time in their lives, but the pain associated with a “typical” headache can be anything but typical. Dr. Matthew Milestone of The Migraine Center of NJ in Bergen County, NJ says that a mild sensitivity to bright light might be all the symptom some people experience as opposed to migraine sufferers who may need to retreat into dark silence to ease their pain.

People who suffer from frequent headaches should always and immediately consult with their physician about the physical causes of any pain above the neck, but the casual annoyance of an everyday headache may be avoided simply by avoiding eating certain foods.

Five headache triggers you eat

Cheese—especially aged cheese; the good stuff. Tyramine is the culprit. Dr. Milestone mentions that Tyramine is a naturally occurring compound in cheese that has shown an association with the onset of migraine headaches. WebMD recommends avoiding these specific types of cheeses:

• Blue cheese
• Brie
• Cheddar
• Stilton
• Feta
• Gorgonzola
• Mozzarella
• Muenster
• Parmesan
• Swiss
• Processed cheese

Alcohol—the “day after” notwithstanding, alcohol contains chemical compounds that may be a factor in triggering migraine headaches during consumption. Tyramine and sulfites in wine are known migraine triggers. Alcohol also increases blood flow to the brain and causes dehydration, two other common headache causes.

Deli meats—the salami, bologna, sausages, and hot dogs that we love so much are all processed meats. Processed meats are, well, processed with salt, flavorings, and preservatives. One Migraine Center of NJ associate mentions sodium nitrites, a naturally occurring preservative that is added to processed meats, which are suspected to trigger headaches in some people. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is another suspected headache trigger found in food.

Caffeine—a stimulant that can bring on a headache from overconsumption, or in some cases, after a cessation of consumption. Coffee, tea, and chocolate are commonly known sources of caffeine, but caffeine can sneak into your diet in subtler ways. Most cola-flavored soft drinks contain caffeine, but so do many citrus-flavored pops (we’re looking at you, Mountain Dew). Be sure you know what is in your drink before making it a part of your headache-avoidance strategy.

Ice Cream—ah, the familiar “brain freeze.” A fond memory of refreshing treats on a summer afternoon is now an adult annoyance that needs to avoided at all costs. There are entire theories on the correct way to eat ice cream/water ice/ sno cones which obviates the risk of brain freeze, but for some folks, a silly brain freeze headache can be a migraine trigger that may cause disabling discomfort.

Bonus Headache Trigger

Nothing—well, by definition this is NOT eating something, but not eating something can be a headache trigger. We’ve all felt “hangry” at some time (more so these days, probably, now that we have a word for it) and there’s a reason for this biophysical reaction to a lack of sustenance. According to WebMD:

“Studies show skipping meals and fasting are migraine triggers in about half of the people who have migraines. Skipping meals can cause a drop in blood sugar that may trigger a migraine. Eating balanced meals throughout the day will help keep your blood sugar on an even keel and may help keep migraines at bay. Aim for meals and snacks that pair a protein with a complex carbohydrate (also called low-glycemic index carbohydrates), such as peanut butter on whole-grain bread.”

Remember, the pain of a typical headache is something which most people have experienced at some time in their lives, but the pain associated with a “typical” headache can be anything but typical. If you’re experiencing painful, annoying headaches that hinder your ability to work, sleep, or perform everyday activities, contact Dr. Matthew Milestone and the experts at The Migraine Center of NJ in Bergen County, NJ at 201-845-8411 today!