Is there a TMJ Pain Treatment?

There are millions of people in the world that suffer from TMJ. This condition occurs when the temporomandibular joints, those between the upper and the lower jaw, are out of alignment or inflamed, resulting in various pain symptoms which can extend from the head to the shoulders.

In the majority of the cases, TMJ is the result of wear and tear. One of the most frequently used joints; the TMJ is a key player in talking, chewing, singing, yawning etc.   Pain symptoms for temporomandibular joint sufferers are headaches, ear pain, sinus pain, facial muscle pain, jaw pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.

This can be mild and happens once in a while, in which case, that is a fairly common occurrence and there is nothing to worry about as the pain goes away on its own. But it can also be a severe pain that lasts for lengths of time and may come and go frequently. It is at these times that people wonder if there is any TMJ pain relief.

There are a number of treatment options available, often revolve around the prevention of symptoms. They include methods of strengthening the TMJ and expanding its field of motion, determining what to eat and how to ease the TMJ pain. TMJ has attracted a lot of attention in recent years and new TMJ pain treatments are developed regularly. Current treatments for TMJ pain include the following: muscle relaxants, pain medication, dental splints, warm compresses, bite therapy and soft diet.

Inflammation of the joint with accompanying muscle strain and spasm are the basis of most TMJ attacks. Pain medication like such as aspirin or ibuprofen and muscle relaxants reduce the pain and tension on the TMJ. A dentist who diagnoses a patient with TMJ disorder may fit them with a type of mouth guard called a dental splint to wear while they are asleep. These are protectors made of soft plastic which are fitted to cover the upper and lower teeth.

This prevents the further misalignment or stress on the TMJ since it prevents grinding of the teeth at night or clenching of the jaws. The dental splint is custom fitted to each individual patient to ensure a proper fit that will lessen the strain on the muscles surrounding the joint

Also known as the TMJ therapy, bite therapy is a treatment option that dentists use to find the cause of a person’s TMJ. With a detailed evaluation of the mouth and jaw, bite therapy pin points the exact cause of the disorder and treatment can be more focused on for example, preventing a jaw clenching habit, stopping a gum chewing habit or even correcting an uneven bite that can also cause TMJ pain.

Warm compresses to the area of pain, be it the jaw itself, the neck or the shoulders, etc., can also give pain relief. Soaking a hand towel in warm water and placing it over the painful spots for 15 to 20 minutes at a time will enhance the blood flow to the area which can ease the pain. The dentist may also recommend a diet of soft foods for a time to lessen the workload on the joint. Allowing the joint and surrounding muscles to heal can bring relief to those suffering from TMJ disorder.

Many people also find that online natural exercises such as those offered by TMJ No More are more effective than surgery or pills.


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This entry was posted on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 at 1:28 am and is filed under White Teeth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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