Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders affect the vital connection between your jawbone and skull, leading to a variety of symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and trouble chewing. This crucial joint enables the movement necessary for speaking, eating, and other daily activities.
While many TMJ issues are manageable with home remedies, some cases require professional dental care. With TMJ disorders affecting between 5% and 12% of adults, understanding how to relieve TMJ pain and recognizing when to seek expert help is essential for maintaining your well-being. In this blog, we’ll provide practical relief strategies and outline when it’s important to consult a dentist or specialist.
What is TMJ?
TMJ disorders encompass a range of issues related to the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. They can be caused by various factors, such as teeth grinding, jaw clenching, arthritis, or jaw misalignment.
Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorders Include
- Pain in the jaw or back teeth
- Headaches or migraines
- Earaches, neck pain, or back discomfort
- Difficulty sleeping
- Limited jaw movement
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
- Clicking or popping sounds while chewing or speaking
TMJ problems can result from a number of things, such as grinding your teeth, wounds, infections, or past surgery. Additionally, autoimmune diseases, degenerative conditions, and environmental factors can contribute to TMJ disorders.
Home Exercises to Relieve TMJ Pain
Many people have found that strengthening and stretching their jaw can help reduce TMJ discomfort. Here are six effective exercises you can do at home or work to alleviate symptoms:
Mouth-Closing Resistance
This exercise targets the muscles involved in closing your mouth. To begin, position your index fingers between your lips and the base of your chin and your thumbs beneath your chin. As you close your mouth, apply gentle downward pressure with your fingers and thumbs. This helps build strength in the muscles responsible for mouth closure.
Mouth-Opening Resistance
To exercise the muscles used in opening your mouth, place two fingers under your chin. Slowly open your mouth while applying gentle pressure with your fingers. Hold this position for about three to six seconds, then close your mouth slowly. The mouth opening muscles are strengthened by this practice.
Tongue Lifts
For this exercise, open and close your mouth slowly while keeping your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth. Repeat this motion several times. This simple exercise helps engage and stretch the muscles in your jaw and tongue, promoting relaxation.
Side-to-Side Jaw Slide
To perform this exercise, gently bite down on an object about one-quarter inch thick, such as two popsicle sticks or a similar item. Slowly move your jaw from side to side, keeping the object between your front teeth. Increase the object’s thickness gradually as the practice gets easier. This workout increases jaw movement and strength.
Jaw Forward Movement
Similar to the side-to-side exercise, place a one-quarter-inch thick object between your front teeth. Place a one-quarter-inch thick object between your front teeth, as you would with the side-to-side exercise. Put your lower teeth in front of your upper teeth when you move your jaw forward. As you gain confidence with this practice, gradually increase the thickness of the object. This exercise strengthens the forward movement of the jaw.
Make time for these exercises every day to help you manage and get rid of TMJ pain. If these exercises do not provide adequate comfort, or if your problems persist or worsen, you should consult a dentist or TMJ specialist.
When to Seek Professional Help to Relieve TMJ Pain? 
While many TMJ issues can be managed with at-home remedies, there are situations where professional intervention is necessary. If you experience any of the following, it’s time to seek help:
- Severe or Persistent Pain: If your TMJ pain is severe, consistent, or severely interfering with your regular activities, seek professional help. Persistent pain could signal a more serious underlying condition.
- Jaw Locking or Limited Movement: Difficulty opening or closing your mouth or a jaw that locks in place requires prompt medical attention. These symptoms can indicate significant joint or muscle problems.
- Chronic Headaches or Earaches: If you experience frequent headaches or earaches along with TMJ pain, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. These symptoms could be related to the TMJ disorder or another underlying condition.
- Unsuccessful Home Remedies: If you’ve tried various home remedies without relief, it’s time to seek professional help. A dentist or specialist can provide targeted treatments and adjust your management plan.
Professional Treatment Options to Relieve TMJ Pain
When home remedies and lifestyle adjustments aren’t enough to fully alleviate TMJ pain, seeking professional treatment options can provide more substantial relief. Here are some advanced approaches:
- Oral Appliances: A dentist can create custom oral appliances, like nightguards, to address teeth grinding and clenching—common culprits of TMJ pain—by protecting your teeth and reducing jaw strain during sleep.
- Physical Therapy: Professional physical therapists can offer specialized exercises and manual therapy techniques to relieve TMJ discomfort and enhance jaw function.
- Medications: Prescription medications, including muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and pain relievers, can be used to manage severe TMJ symptoms effectively.
- Dental Corrections: If misalignment is contributing to your TMJ issues, corrective dental treatments such as orthodontics or bite adjustments can help alleviate pain.
- Advanced Treatments: When conservative treatments fail, more sophisticated methods, such as TMJ injections or surgical procedures, may be considered as a final resort to provide relief.
Conclusion
Relieving TMJ pain can often be managed with simple at-home remedies, but knowing when to seek professional help is crucial for long-term relief and overall oral health. If you have severe, persistent, or worsening symptoms, see a dentist or TMJ specialist for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan. At Perfect White Smile, we are committed to providing the best care for your TMJ issues and helping you achieve a healthier, more comfortable smile.
For more information on TMJ disorders and treatments or to schedule a consultation, contact Perfect White Smile today. Your journey to a pain-free, perfect white smile starts here.
FAQs
When should I go to the hospital with TMJ?
TMJ disorders generally don’t require emergency dental care unless the condition worsens significantly. If you experience a locked jaw or severe pain, it’s crucial to visit the emergency room. Additionally, if you sustain a serious jaw injury or dislocation, seeking emergency dental care in the ER is necessary.
Why is my TMJ so bad all of a sudden?
There are multiple reasons why a patient might experience sudden or severe jaw pain, but inflammation and overworked muscles are typically the most common causes of TMJ flare-ups. Factors such as physical changes and certain lifestyle habits often contribute to swelling around the joint and increased muscle tension.
Can TMJ pain be unbearable?
Facial and jaw pain can be incredibly intense, and it’s even more distressing when the cause is unclear. Often, this type of discomfort is linked to issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
References
- 9 Best Exercises for Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain Relief San Antonio Regional Hospital
- How does my jaw move? Infodystonia
- How Do You Relieve TMJ Pain? Stuart Prosthetic Dentistry
