Overcome Orofacial Pain with Effective TMJ Pain Treatments

TMJ disorder (TMD) is a group of conditions that involve the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). The TMJs are hinge-like joints on either side of the face that help the jaws move in almost every direction when speaking, chewing, yawning, missing, etc. Healthy TMJs work seamlessly, and you rarely know they exist. However, when strained, injured, or inflamed, TMJs can cause several unpleasant symptoms. 

Some include:

• Jaw pain or soreness
• Constant headaches
• Painful chewing
• Locked jaws/difficulty moving your jaws
• Clicking sounds when using your jaws (crepitus) 
• Tinnitus (ringing sound in the ears)
  

TMJ pain can have overlapping symptoms, and occasionally, the location of the pain does not correspond to the actual problem. For instance, TMJ pain can radiate to the neck, shoulders, and upper back, making diagnosis difficult. When you suspect TMJ pain, proper diagnosis is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. 

Our doctor will devise a personalized treatment plan after assessing your medical history and jaw joints. A customized oral appliance is usually the standard treatment for TMJ pain. This oral device fits snugly over your teeth and allows your TMJs to relax and heal over time. TMJ mouthguards are especially helpful for pain caused by bruxism, although they can help in other cases. 

The other treatments for TMJ pain include.

• Jaw rehabilitation exercises
• Home remedies, including a soft diet and ice pack application
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Orthodontics to correct a bad bite
• Stress management techniques
• Botox injections

There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for TMJ pain. However, we’ll work with you until you achieve a pain-free life.