Making Your Jaw Drop!

Be Prepared

Now that my truck first aid kit is complete, I'm noticing that stories of flooding from spring thaw are running rampant (pun intended!) Probably by the time the flooding reports are over, we will be into the season of forest fires, thunderstorms and tornadoes. The panic shopping done over the past few months has highlighted the need for people to be prepared. We have been told for years to have a 72 hour kit for our family. Too often we live day to day or we procrastinate. If we have learned anything this spring, it's that we never know what the future might hold.

I am a champion procrastinator. In university, I sewed entire outfits, when I was supposed to be writing papers. So I speak from experience. More often than not, when I'm tired after work, I put off until "tomorrow" errands that I should run, like getting gas. More than once, I regretted it when my command start wouldn't work because the fuel gauge was too low.

Depending on our location and circumstances, we need to prepare for different things. Every area is prone to different natural disasters. Rural homes have different challenges than urban ones; and each has different resources. We need different things to be evacuated than we need to be stuck at home, but there is some cross-over. Not all emergencies are wide spread disasters, they can be limited to just your family, like having to get someone to the hospital, but the car has no gas or your phone isn't charged.

A lot of the items in the 72 hour kit are things we already have. It's a good idea to have a working pantry. This is a space set aside, it could just be a shelf, where you keep emergency back up supplies. When a staple item like cereal, tissues, or soup is on sale, buy a little extra. Put the extra in your working pantry. Build it up over time, so it's not an overwhelming task. The next time you buy that cereal, put the new box in the pantry and the pantry box in the kitchen (that's why it's called a working pantry, you don't just store it and forget about it). That way, you know everything is fresh. Pick a time that you can remember, like when you change your furnace filter, to change out the medications and check batteries.

Emergency Back Up Supplies

Drinking water 4 liters, per person, per day

Food that doesn't require a stove or microwave

Adequate medication refills

First aid kit

Over the counter medication

Back up power for medical devices

Feminine Hygiene, Incontinence products, Diapers & Wipes

Cleaning supplies and sanitizer (some events can contaminate water supplies)

Full gas tank

Full propane tank if you have a BBQ or camp stove

Fuel if you have a generator

Cash (power outages make cards useless)

Flashlight

Batteries (store outside of devices)

Battery, solar or crank radio - we have a solar/crank radio for camping that works great that we can also use to charge our phones

Emergency candles, matches / lighter

Space heaters - you might have power but no natural gas for heat

Basic tools

Manual can opener

Entertainment like board games and cards

Extra blankets

Pet food

Copies of essential information like health care numbers, insurance contacts, pet vaccines

Everyone in the home should be aware of the location of emergency supplies. You should be able to find a flashlight or candles in the dark. If the house is on fire, you don't want to be digging through a bin for the dog's leash. If you are evacuated, you may not have a lot of notice for packing. Car keys and wallets should be easy to find.

This week I started to put together an emergency bag that can be grabbed on the way out the door. It will have everything we need to be comfortable and safe for a couple days if we have to. It's a work in progress, I'm sure it will change.

Emergency Grab & Go Bag

Many of these items are divided into ziplock bags, we don't want sunscreen all over the deck of cards! 

Toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss

Comb

Lotion, lip balm

Week supply of medications

Cards & dice, paper & pencil

Thumb drive with family photos (would hate to lose those in a fire)

Filtering water bottles (Berkey)

Snacks

Wash cloth for each person

Soap

Tissues

TP

Hand sanitizer, wet wipes

Leash, doggie bags, water & food bowls

Pet food

Sunscreen & Bug Spray

Phone cords and charging block

Hats, gloves, socks

First aid kit - I love first aid kits...

Emergency candle in a can and matches/lighter

Copies of essential information like health care numbers, insurance contacts, pet vaccines

Important phone numbers on paper; phone batteries die

Good Habits

Much of being prepared has to do with good habits and awareness. Watch the news, know what the weather is doing. I have apps on my phone for weather, high stream advisories, emergency alerts and wildfires. 

Keeping fuel gauge above half in vehicles

Keeping phones charged

Knowing where keys and wallets are

Putting items on the shopping list when you are almost out

Refilling prescriptions before they run out

Testing smoke detectors / replacing batteries

Keeping entry ways clear of clutter

Keeping vehicles, appliances, etc. in good repair

If you see things that I forgot, please let me know!

Your Jaw Should Be Able To Drop

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, more commonly known as TMJ is a broad term for a variety of jaw issues that affect the joint that hinges the bottom jaw (mandible) to the skull, specifically the temporal bone. (Many people think of the skull as a single structure, but it is actually a collection of 22 bones!) Pain in the jaw can stem from:

Arthritis - deterioration of the cartilage in the joint

Whiplash / Dislocation - damage to the ligaments from a forceful impact; either from the side, or when your head snaps forward, the lower jaw goes even further forward and snaps back. This force can be from a car accident, a fall, being tackled or checked in sports, or being hit in the face with a ball.

Dental - chewing on one side of the mouth due to dental pain, sensitivity, or habit (gum, chewing tobacco); orthodontic or denture alignment; teeth lost or removed

Stress - clenching or grinding 

Medical - conditions that affect the ligaments, tendons or muscles in the jaw (i.e. sinus infection, stroke)

TMJ dysfunction can occur on one or both sides of the jaw and lead to headaches, jaw pain, toothaches, and earaches. It may be a secondary condition arising from a neck dysfunction or be the primary source causing issues with the neck (chicken or the egg!) When the TMJ is out of sorts, it can restrict jaw mobility. People often seek treatment because they find they are unable to open their mouth properly. This may be accompanied by clicking or grinding in the joint when chewing.

There are many muscles involved with jaw movement:  chewing, talking, and facial expressions. The bottom jaw is only attached at the back, by the ear, to allow for all this mobility. It doesn't take much of a force to push things out of place.

Testing for TMJ Dysfunction:

Sit in a comfortable position.

Place your fingers lightly on both sides of your jaw, just in front of your ears.

Slowly open and close your mouth a few times.

If there is a misalignment in your jaw, you will feel the two sides move at a slightly different rate.

Curl your fingers into a loose fist, like you are giving "thumbs up". Open your mouth as wide as you can, comfortably. See how many knuckles you can fit between your teeth. With proper range of motion, you should be able to get two or three knuckles in.

If muscles on one side are tighter, they will pull the jaw over when you talk or eat. Sit in front of the mirror and watch if your jaw moves to the side when you open your mouth. If it's hard to tell, try this:

With a dry erase marker and ruler, draw a vertical line on the mirror.

With an eyeliner or washable marker, put a dot on the tip of your nose and another on the center of your chin.

Line the dots up in the mirror with the line.

Keep your head as steady as you can. Open and close your jaw, slowly. You should be able to see if your jaw dot strays from the line.

Assure your family that isolation hasn't driven you over the bend!

Self Treating TMJ Dysfunction

Avoid aggravating behavior (aggravating to your jaw, that is, not your family - that's up to you!) Such as:

Chewy or tough food (toffee, tough meat)

Biting into whole apples or large carrots, cut them up first

Gum chewing

Chewing tobacco

Crunching popcorn kernels - you shouldn't do that anyway, it can break your teeth

Icy drinks - cold causes muscles to tighten up

Chewing large bites of food (sometimes good manners have practical applications)

Clenching and grinding

Propping your chin in your hand, especially when chewing gum.

Breathing through your mouth

Self Treatment

Use heat - Snuggle up with your wheat bag, the easiest way to do this is to take it to bed with you. Trying to hold it to your face can irritate the muscles in your neck and shoulders.

If the pain has followed an injury or dental work, use cold to reduce inflammation.

Gently massage along your jaw. This is not an area that appreciates deep tissue treatment. Make sure your hands are clean first, not only for virus protection, but the bacteria on your hands can lead to acne.

Breathing and relaxation exercises before and after stressful situations can help reduce jaw clenching.

Take frequent breaks in circumstances that make you clench your jaw. For me, that would be driving in the city or bad weather!

Restful sleep (see April 2, 2020)

Stretching the Jaw Muscles

Lay on your back. Relax your jaw. Hook two fingers behind the incisors. Very gently pull your jaw forward and back.

Sit in a comfortable position.

Place your fingers lightly on both sides of your jaw, just in front of your ears.

Slowly open and close your mouth a few times. You should only feel your joint rotate with the motion. The bottom jaw should not be sliding foward from the joint - discontinue if it does.

Start with a slight motion. This will eventually progress to a full yawning action.

Stretch your neck muscles  - see March 26 - 31, 2020

Professional Help

If your jaw pain doesn't clear up quickly and you have orthodontic work or dentures, check with your specialist to make sure everything is fitting as it should.

Your dental care team can fit you for a mouth guard if you grind or clench your teeth when you sleep.

Ask your dentist and/or hygienist for breaks during lengthy procedures (preferably before they are in your mouth, so they can understand you!)

Seek diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea, if necessary.

If the initial cause of your TMJ dysfunction was an accident or blow, you may want to consult with a physiotherapist to restore proper muscle strength and balance.

Most TMJ Dysfunction is short lived and can be managed with simple measures.