TMJ Troubles? How to Identify, Treat, and Manage Jaw Pain and Discomfort
Does your jaw click when you open your mouth or chew? Do you experience chronic jaw pain and discomfort? If so, you might have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
This joint is on the sides of your head, where your jaw meets your skull. It’s responsible for hinging to open and close your mouth, chew food, and talk.
TMJ issues are fairly common. As many as 12% of all people experience TMJ problems at least once in their lifetime. These symptoms can wreak havoc on your daily life, causing pain and discomfort during eating, sleeping, and speaking. Here’s what you should know about managing and treating TMJ disorder.Â
Identifying TMJ Symptoms
What is TMJ disorder? The symptoms can be easy to miss if you’re used to this type of discomfort.
Common signs of temporomandibular disorder include:
- Jaw clicking and popping
- Difficulty chewing
- Random earaches and sharp pains
- Recurring headaches
- Difficulty opening your mouth all the way
- Jaw lockingÂ
- Frequent jaw pain
If you’ve experienced these symptoms, you likely need a professional evaluation to rule out other disorders. If left untreated, TMJ issues can increase your pain and eventually cause problems with nutrition, since it makes it harder to eat.
Potential Causes of TMJ Issues
What causes TMJ problems in the first place? Temporomandibular joint issues are usually musculoskeletal in nature, meaning there are problems with both your jaw joint and the surrounding musculature.Â
Grinding Your Teeth (Bruxism)
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) are common and can lead to TMJ issues over time. The repeated pressure on your jaw joint and chewing muscles eventually causes dysfunction. Many people grind their teeth in their sleep or in response to stress without realizing it.
Misaligned Jaw or Bite
Another common culprit of TMJ disorder is jaw or bite misalignment. This happens when your teeth or upper jaw are not properly aligned with the bottom of your mouth. Misalignment can strain the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, leading to TMJ pain.
Psychological Stress
Stress is a sneaky cause of TMJ that you might not consider at first. The human body responds to stress by automatically tensing certain muscles, and your jaw is one of the first to tense up.
If you’ve experienced prolonged mental stress, you’ve probably been clenching your jaw without realizing it. Luckily, there are plenty of TMJ treatment options to help you feel better.
Treatment Options
If your TMJ symptoms are ruining your quality of life, you have options. Both at-home and professional treatments can alleviate your discomfort and improve your jaw function to a manageable level.
Jaw Exercises
Certain jaw movements help release muscle tension around the temporomandibular joint, which can relieve jaw pressure and pain.
Exercises like stretching your lower jaw as far as it can go and then letting your mouth naturally close provide temporary relief. Repeat your stretches daily to work out any tension and maintain your comfort long term.
Warm Compresses
If your TMJ pain is unbearable, try using a warm compress to relieve your pain. The heat from the cloth will naturally relax your jaw muscles and combat inflammation.
Stress Management and Self-CareÂ
When stress is behind your TMJ symptoms, it’s time to consider how you manage that stress. Use healthy stress relief techniques like yoga, stretching, and frequent exercise to start releasing tense jaw muscles.
Self-care is any activity that helps you pour back into yourself in a healthy way. Take a walk with a friend, meet your relatives for dinner, and do anything else that fills your cup to manage TMJ tension.
Professional Interventions
Professional TMJ treatments aim to provide longer-term TMJ relief. When combined with at-home methods, your TMJ issues may go into remission.
Custom nightguards help keep your bite in the correct alignment to encourage tension release in your jaw. They combat bruxism, one of the leading causes of TMJ.
Orthodontic work can help correct any further alignment issues in your teeth, which can improve your bite and give you jaw pain relief. Consult an orthodontist for more information.
Physical therapy works on the muscles and ligaments surrounding your jaw to strengthen the area. Consider this treatment if your at-home stretches and exercises aren’t working.
Surgical Solutions
As a last resort, you can consider oral surgery to correct your TMJ issues. This is not a common intervention. You should always get multiple professional opinions before scheduling surgery.
Long-Term Management Tips
TMJ management is all about reducing the tension and workload your jaw has to deal with.
Habits like avoiding hard or chewy foods can relieve jaw pressure in the long run. Doing jaw relaxation techniques (like progressive muscle relaxation) can help combat mental stress and provide TMJ relief.
Schedule regular dental checkups to ensure everything is functioning as it should. Dental visits can help catch TMJ symptoms early, speeding up the relief process.
Get Help With TMJ Symptoms at Alani Dental Center
At Alani Dental Center, we offer general dentistry services to help detect and correct any TMJ issues you have. The sooner you get relief, the better! Contact us to book an appointment today!
