Because people use their jaws so often, sometimes even moving their jaws or clenching their teeth unconsciously, the structures of the jaw are subjected to a significant amount of wear and tear, and, when combined with some underlying conditions or in concert with one another, these forces can cause inflammation
in the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ disorder. The symptoms of TMJ disorder are uncomfortable or even painful and can appear as sharp pain in the jaw, dull or throbbing pain in the neck or near the ear, or any kind of pain in between – or a combination of all of these.
The first step to curing TMJ disorder is to stop habits like clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth.
It can also be a problem if you regularly chew gum or habitually chew ice, pens, or other very hard items or foods. In many cases, these non-invasive options cure TMJ disorder and, when maintained, prevent it from reappearing.
Over-the-counter pain medication can provide prompt but temporary relief from pain. When nonsurgical treatments are unsuccessful at curing TMJ disorder, surgery may be called for. The common surgical treatment for TMJ disorder is a minimally invasive outpatient treatment called arthrocentesis.
In severe cases, the joint may need to be replaced. Some patients have also found long-term relief from transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a nerve-stimulation treatment that uses electrical currents to treat pain.
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Related: Is TMJ Serious ?
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