“Ways to get rid of TMJ pain?”
I have pain in the right side of my jaw and the dentist says it's TMJ but I don't know how to make it stop hurting. Is there any way to make the pain caused by TMJ go away?
10 Answers
You can try resting your jaw, using NSAID medication (like Motrin), heat/cold packs. If it persists, see a board certified OMFS that treats TMJ patients and see about having an occlusal splint made (type of night guard made for TMJ).
Use over-the-counter meds like advil or aleve, and use a also warm compress over TMJ. Eat a soft diet and see a dentist for a possible night guard.
Get a bite splint fabricated at a position that will help the muscles heal.
Before elaborating on this question, it should be made clear that TMJ is not a disorder, but one of the body’s joint like a knee or an elbow joint. TMJ is the joint hinging lower jaw (mandible) to the skull bone. Therefore, any dysfunction of the TMJ, like movement limitation, should be called a TMJ disorder or TMD.
Jaw cramps in one of the signs and symptoms of TMD. Other diagnostic symptoms of TMD include: pain, noise, deviation of jaw during opening and closing of mouth, and jaw locking.
More info on TMJ disorder is available on my website:
https://www.atozdentalcare.com/dental-service/orofacial-pain-specialty/tmj-disorders/
All of TMJ disorder symptoms should be taken seriously and the patient should be evaluated by a dentist, or by a TMJ specialist in complicated cases.
Jaw cramps in one of the signs and symptoms of TMD. Other diagnostic symptoms of TMD include: pain, noise, deviation of jaw during opening and closing of mouth, and jaw locking.
More info on TMJ disorder is available on my website:
https://www.atozdentalcare.com/dental-service/orofacial-pain-specialty/tmj-disorders/
All of TMJ disorder symptoms should be taken seriously and the patient should be evaluated by a dentist, or by a TMJ specialist in complicated cases.
TMJ pain is a problem. Because the area has many nerves and blood vessels that are located in and pass through the area, finding an answer may take some time. You can stop eating hard food items. Biting into apples, hoagies, nuts, large sandwiches, ice, etc. Place your two fists under your chin when you yawn. You can try Advil, ibuprofen, placing warm, moist washcloths on the side where you hurt. You may try a night guard to keep you from grinding your teeth. It may take some time to see what helps.
Treatment for "TMJ" usually begins with management of clenching/grinding during the night with an appliance that gives the jaw muscles a chance to rest. You will need to change some habits (no gum, jerky, almonds, hard candy, ice, etc.) and add some habits (no side sleeping, soft diet, moist heat and massage to BOTH sides), anti-inflammatory meds as needed and your doctor’s council on helping you.
We can resolve this problem in two different ways.
1. Non-surgical
2. Surgical
Depends on how your TMJ articulates, the treatment method will be determined.
1. Non-surgical
2. Surgical
Depends on how your TMJ articulates, the treatment method will be determined.
Good question. Since this topic is controversial and often debated among dentists, I will keep it simple. TMJ pain is usually either muscular (over 95% of the time) or due to an internal derangement of the joint itself (breakdown of the joint). A well made mouth guard (night guard type) appliance is almost always effective. I don't recommend getting one from a pharmacy or online. They rarely if ever work and can be very bulky. See a dentist for one. They are not cheap, but well worth the cost. FYI, I have successfully treated these cases for over 35 years so that speaks for itself.
Hope this helps and that you get better.
Hope this helps and that you get better.
Please make an appointment for a comprehensive TMJ evaluation.
There are many reasons to cause TMD. If a patient has bruxism, a night guard can help to reduce the pain. However, in order to diagnose the cause of pain, I strongly recommend you see an oral surgeon.
