There are many things that can contribute to TMJ disorder, including normal wear and tear, aging, and injury, and bad oral habits like grinding or clenching the teeth can cause the condition to worsen. When patients have arthritis in the temporomandibular joint, they may experience flare-ups of TMJ disorder that may or may not be connected with habits or behaviors. In most cases of mild TMJ disorder, the disorder can often be reversed, and, with proper maintenance, it can often be cured completely. When people have TMJ flare-ups, there are ways to manage the pain, and there may even be at-home treatments that will make the pain go away completely. When TMJ pain is recurring, or if it interferes with your ability to perform basic functions, seek medical help from a doctor or dentist. Some TMJ disorders are serious, and some may even require surgical intervention, but in most cases, TMJ disorders can be resolved with non-surgical treatments.
The joints that become inflamed in TMJ disorders are the joints right in front of a person’s ears, on both sides. These temporomandibular joints attach the jawbone to the skull and cooperate with muscles, ligaments, and other tissues to facilitate the jaw’s movements throughout their breadth of functions, like chewing, yawning, talking, etc. TMJ disorder is the broad diagnosis for uncomfortable, dysfunctional inflammation and irritation of the muscles, ligaments, or connective tissues that support the joints, which has several possible causes. These disorders can last a few days, or they can be chronic and difficult to cure. The pain from TMJ disorders is also varied, and can be mild enough to manage with at-home therapies, or severe enough to cause debilitating pain in the jaw, head, ears, and neck, and even to make it difficult to swallow. If your TMJ pain is serious enough to interfere with your ability to function, see a medical professional as soon as you can, especially if you can’t swallow.
Mild TMJ disorders can often be resolved with conservative treatments used in conjunction with each other. These conservative treatments can also help relieve the pain of TMJ disorder while you wait to see your doctor for a diagnosis and additional treatment. Many people find relief by using moist heat packs, cold packs, or alternating both of these. Moist heat can help relax the muscles, and cold packs can numb the pain, but make sure you protect your skin and wrap the pack with a towel, and don’t use heat or cold for more than 20 minutes per session. Jaw stretches and exercises can also help relieve pain in the muscles and ligaments and help strengthen them so TMJ pain doesn’t return. After stretching the jaw, a warm compress will be especially beneficial in more deeply relaxing the jaw. Try to limit the use of your jaw, eating soft foods that require little chewing, and try over-the-counter anti-inflammatories to reduce pain. Once you see the dentist, they’ll examine your jaw, taking x-rays and other images if needed and then planning your comprehensive treatment. If conservative treatments like mouth guards, splints, or corrective dental treatments don’t work to relieve your TMJ disorder, your dentist might recommend clinical treatments like trigger-point injections, radio wave therapy, or Botox injections to relax and soothe the inflamed tissues. If these treatments are unsuccessful and your pain is still severe, TMJ surgery may be the best option to get rid of TMJ pain for good.