Our temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is essential to open and close our jaw properly. While we mainly use this joint to chew our food, this joint is also needed when we're talking, laughing, and smiling.
But what if you experience pain, cracking, and discomfort in your jaw? You may have something called temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Between 11-12 million American adults
struggle with TMJ pain, which may stem from any of the 30 TMJ disorders.
Is there a TMD cure? Here are a few TMD treatments and when you need to see a professional.
Improve Your Posture
It may seem weird to know that your posture affects your jaw. However, this study confirms that the
jaw-sensory motor
system has the potential to impact your posture.
Do you struggle with posture issues? Try working on this, especially if you sit for long hours during the day. Choose a chair with excellent support to keep your back upright. If your chair doesn't offer good support, pull your shoulders back and raise your chest to straighten your back. Make sure you take breaks to stand up and walk around. Stretch your back, shoulders, and neck on a regular basis.
What if you're on your feet for most of the day? You should still maintain excellent posture when doing leisure activities, such as watching TV. Sit with a pillow propped up against your back.
You should also improve your posture while you sleep. The best sleeping position for TMD is on your back. Make sure there are enough pillows to support your neck. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. If you're a side sleeper, don't place your hand on or under your jaw.
Rest Your Jaw
While maintaining a proper back position is integral to reducing TMD pain, you'll also need to rest your jaw. That's because jaw clenching is one of the most common
TMD symptoms. Keep your jaw joints and muscles as relaxed as possible. Resist the urge to open your mouth. You should also avoid wide jaw movements, such as yawning, chewing, yelling, and singing.
Hot or Cold Compress
If your TMD pain is getting worse, a hot or cold compress can reduce the pain and swelling. Cold compresses, such as a bag of frozen vegetables, are best for inflammation. A hot compress, such as a warm damp washcloth, relaxes your muscles. If you're not sure which one you need, try both.
You should hold the compress on the TMJ joint for 15-20 minutes at a time. If the compress is too hot or cold, make sure there's a layer of fabric between your skin and the compress.
Perform Jaw Exercises
There are a number of
jaw exercises and stretches that can reduce your pain as well as improve jaw mobility. Examples include opening and closing your jaw (both partially and fully), chin tucks, tongue up, side-to-side jaw movements, and forward jaw movement.
Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and stress have many physical effects, including jaw clenching. If you believe your
TMD stems from stress, take measures to reduce the anxiety in your life. Try meditation and yoga. These activities decrease stress in the mind and yoga strengthens your muscles. Some activities, such as gardening and reading, also calm the mind and body.
Avoid Certain Foods
Specific foods require you to open your mouth wide and you may have to chew more. These actions can irritate your TMJ, resulting in more pain. You should specifically avoid foods that are hard and crunchy. Your jaw will move in an extreme way to chew the food, causing TMJ irritation. You should also avoid eating food that requires large bites, such as burgers. Gum and any food that requires prolonged chewing will also overwork the TMJ, causing pain.
Reduce Bad Habits
Even if you avoid these foods, certain bad habits can contribute to
TMJ pain. These include:
- Chewing and biting cheeks and lips
- Biting your nails
- Clenching your teeth
- Pushing your tongue against your teeth
- Grinding your teeth
If you find yourself doing any of these bad habits, take note of them. If you believe these bad habits stem from anxiety, try yoga and meditation or see a doctor.
Night Guard
Do you wake up in the morning with a painful and swollen jaw? If so, there's a chance your sleeping habits are contributing to TMD. It's common for people to grind their teeth and clench their jaws while sleeping. If this is your case,
your dentist may recommend a night guard.
A night guard is a piece of plastic that fits over your top and bottom teeth.
It eliminates tension so you don't wake up with a painful jaw. While most patients only wear a night guard when sleeping, your dentist may recommend wearing one all day if your case is severe.
Surgery
For most people with TMD, at-home relief is enough to control bad habits and reduce pain. But there are times when DIY methods aren't enough. In this case, you'll need
professional assistance. Medicine, physical therapy, and TMD surgery can improve your jaw health and ensure you live a more comfortable life.
When you see a TMD dentist, you can first expect an examination so the surgeon can see the severity of your condition. From here, they will recommend different treatment options for you. Some common TMD surgeries include arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and total joint replacement.
Is There a TMD Cure?
A TMD cure is possible if you address the issue. All of these methods can help you open and close your jaw properly while reducing the pain that comes with normal jaw movements. Most patients find these at-home methods, such as improving posture and reducing bad habits, can improve their TMD drastically. But there are times when you need professional assistance.
We offer various TMJ and TMD services and we can create a customized treatment plan for you. If you're looking for a
dentist in Burke, VA,
contact us today to schedule a consultation.
