Treatment Solutions for TMJ Pain

If you have ever or are experiencing jaw pain, you know how unwelcomed and disruptive the sensations can be to your daily life and activities. You become acutely aware of just how often you open your mouth to yawn or speak, and may find yourself switching to softer foods to avoid pain while biting or chewing.

Though the root cause of jaw pain isn’t always easy to identify, there are many simple actions you can take to find relief, starting with knowing the possible causes and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

What causes TMD?

Alongside connecting your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull (at the temporal bone), your right and left temporomandibular joints (TMJs) work together to give your jaw the mobility it needs to open your mouth for chewing, swallowing, speaking, laughing, and yawning. With the ability to rotate and move forward, backward, and side to side, the TMJ is considered one of the most complex joints in your body. As such, issues with the TMJ aren’t always easy to pinpoint and could be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

• A misaligned or “bad” bite (malocclusion)
• Injury or trauma to your jaw, face, head, or neck
• Neuromuscular (nerve and muscle) dysfunction
• Muscle tension
• Postural imbalances
• Stress, anxiety, or depression
• Certain oral habits (called parafunctional habits), such as biting your lips or the insides of your checks, chewing on non-food objects while stressed, or grinding your teeth (bruxism).

Possible Symptoms of TMD

Moved by your jaw muscles, the TMJs open and close an estimated 2,000 times a day, making them two of the most frequently used joints in your entire body. Your TMJs also produce an impressive amount of force as you eat (up to 270 pounds, or 1,200 newtons). When something goes wrong with these powerful, frequently used structures, you may experience any number of the following symptoms, which can range from mild distraction to debilitating pain.

• Jaw pain: TMJ dysfunction often causes pain in one or both jaw joints or surrounding muscles, which may increase when you eat.
• Limited jaw mobility: TMD can limit your jaw’s range of motion and function. In severe cases, TMD can cause the jaws to get stuck in the open or closed position (known as jaw locking).
• Sounds: TMJ issues can cause clicking, popping, or grating sounds when chewing or moving the jaw to open or close the mouth, which may or may not cause pain.
• Referred symptoms: TMD can also cause symptoms that don’t seem related to jaw issues, such as toothaches, frequent headaches, migraines, eye or facial pain, dizziness, neck and upper shoulder pain, voice changes, earaches, hearing problems, or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). TMJ issues can also contribute to other physical and emotional ailments, including stress, anxiety, depression, low energy, and decreased work performance.

TMD is the most common cause of chronic non-dental facial pain and impacts twice as many women as men. Even if you don’t know the root cause of TMJ pain, you can benefit from talking with your dentist and implementing the following practical steps.

TMD Treatment Options

If you’re experiencing TMD symptoms and have only found fleeting relief with OTC pain medications, consider trying one or more of the following options to nurture long-lasting relief.

1. Prioritize stress management.

If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, you may not realize you’re expressing excess tension in the muscles of your jaw and face. As errant stress can contribute to multiple negative health consequences, one of the best gifts you can give yourself is prioritizing self-care habits that help you find relief. Regular exercise, meditation, or talking with someone you trust, like a therapist or friend, can help you find the relief you need. You may start with reminding yourself daily that you deserve the self-care you want and need to keep stress in check and nurture your best well-being.

2. Chew mindfully.

When you’re stressed or busy, you may not notice you’ve picked up some oral habits that are disrupting your jaws’ ability to function optimally. To balance the effort of your right and left TMJs, practice chewing evenly on both sides of your mouth each time you eat. You can also notice if you tend to chew on pen caps or any non-food items when you’re busy or stressed, and incorporate stress-relieving techniques, like body scanning and deep breathing. You can also practice consciously relaxing your face throughout the day, using the mantra “lips together, teeth apart.”

3. Wear a custom oral appliance.

Along with causing undesirable symptoms and jaw pain, the tooth clenching or grinding that often causes TMJ can damage your teeth or dental restorations and further exacerbate pain. Your dentist can help you prevent damage to your smile and find relief from TMJ pain with a mouth guard or oral splint, which are custom-made to fit over your teeth. When worn regularly (usually during sleep), mouth guards and oral splints help relieve pressure on the muscles and joints while preventing damage to your teeth.

4. Practice good posture.

The demands of modern life can wreak havoc on your posture and create the muscle imbalances that can trigger TMJ pain. To support the health of your jaws and spine, practice sitting and standing with your skull above your rib cage and your rib cage above your pelvis (this will often require that you gently lean back in space, bringing your head out of “forward head posture”). You can also opt for a hands-free headset to avoid holding your phone between your ear and shoulder, and incorporate mindful movement practices that support a healthy posture, such as yoga, tai chi, or qigong.

5. Talk with your doctor about surgery.

If you have tried all of the above options and have not found relief, talk with your doctor about your options for surgical relief. Though they should be considered a last resort, for the minority of patients, surgery and other more invasive options may be the best route for lasting relief.

Our dentists are committed to helping you find TMD treatment options you can easily fit into your lifestyle so you can reclaim healthy jaw function and a high quality of living. To learn more about non-invasive options for treating jaw pain, contact our office to schedule an appointment today.