Pain in the jaw or facial area, TMJ or temporomandibular joint pain, can be excruciating. TMJ is basically the “hinge” joint that connects your upper and lower jawbones, cushioned by a tiny disc between the joints. Many people experience pain when that disc “pops” in and out, some even to the point that their jaw locks in place. My personal experience with TMJ comes from an overbite and when I open my mouth wide or eat hard breads, candy, etc., I get a painful popping sound.

Causes of TMJ

TMJ can have many causes, including genetic predisposition, an overbite, an  underbite, or bruxism (grinding of the teeth, particularly at night). Some people can have TMJ as a result of arthtritis, whiplash or injury to the area, chewing gum excessively, anxiety and stress, and even poor posture.

Symptoms of TMJ

Symptoms of TMJ vary from person to person and in severity, and may include:

• a popping sensation when opening your mouth or opening it wide.
• headaches
• toothaches (especially if you struggle with bruxism)
• lockjaw in severe cases
• pain in the ears or a ringing (tinnitus)
• problems with hearing or fluid in the ears
• tired muscles around the joint, sometimes to the point of pain or cramping
• swelling around the joint or a “puffy” face
• neck and shoulder pain

Treatments for TMJ

Depending on the severity, treatments can include:

Medications

• Over the counter anti-inflammatories or prescription pain relievers
• Muscle relaxers (to relax the muscles straining around the joint)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (used to treat anxiety, depresssion, bruxism, or insomnia associated with the condition)

Devices

Devices such as:

• A night guard, similar to the athletic guards worn by athletes to prevent grinding of your teeth
• A splint to stabilize and protect the joint
• Prosthodontics such a bridges or dentures to align to the joint properly
• Braces to correct an over or under bite

Therapies

• Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the supportive TMJ muscles
• Biofeedback is a process to learn to control pain by controlling your body’s heartbeat, brainwaves, breathing patterns, and blood pressure. This is often done with the aid of sensors to monitor your progress. (side note: I learned biofeedback to control pain and one of the biggest and easiest tricks that I learned was to “breathe” into the pain. For example, if opening your jaw hurts, inhale right before and exhale as you have to open your jaw to “breathe into the pain”)
• Acupuncture has been shown to help alleviate TMJ pain. Acupuncture is a form of tradiitonal Chinese medicine in which an accupuncturist sticks tiny nedles into pressure points around the area to alleviate swelling and pain
• Self care in the form of managing stress and anxiety, whether it is through meditation, therapy, medication, or proper self care. Some people prefer things such as yoga or mindfulness meditation (on their own or you can youtube guided mediations if that is what you prefer).  If you’re having a particularly bad flare, you can temporarily go on a soft food diet, use moist heat on the joints, sleep on your sides and try to consciously relax your facial muscles. Search for dentists in Tampa FL to find ones that can treat the condition.

What have you done to help alleviate your TMJ?