Is there a TMJ Pain Treatment?

There are millions of people in the world that suffer from TMJ.  This means that their temporomandibular joints, the joint in between the upper and lower jaws are either misaligned or inflamed causing a number of pain symptoms that go from the head to as far down in the body as the shoulders.

More often than not, TMJ is caused by 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.  These are the times when people ask, is there a TMJ pain treatment?

Treatment options are numerous and they begin with prevention.  They cover ways to make the TMJ stronger and increase range of motion in the TMJ, what to eat and do to alleviate TMJ pain.  More and more ways to treat TMJ pain is being found as the days progress.   Laid out plainly, TMJ pain treatments are pain medication, muscle relaxants, application of dental splints, bite therapy, warm compresses and soft diet.

When TMJ pain strikes, it is mainly that the joint is inflamed and the muscles are strained.  Pain medication like such as aspirin or ibuprofen and muscle relaxants reduce the pain and tension on the TMJ.  Once diagnosed with TMJ, a person is fitted with dental splints or a mouth guard to use throughout the day or while sleeping.  They are soft plastic protectors that can be slipped over the upper and lower teeth.

==> Click HERE to download the TMJ Help Program today <==

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 less strained the muscles are on the TMJ, the less pain there is and so these dental splints are custom fitted for optimum comfort of the TMJ.

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.  Putting a hand towel soaked in warm water over the painful area for about 15 to 20 minutes increases blood circulation on the area alleviating the pain.  Lessen strain on the muscles of the jaw by shifting to a soft diet.  By not overusing the TMJ and overstraining the muscles, pain can be avoided.