Is Your Jaw Pain a Sign of TMJ – and What Can You Do About It?

Your jaw hurts when you bite, chew, or even open your mouth to talk. It also makes a popping, clicking, or grinding sound with movement, causing more discomfort.

If this sounds like you, you may have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a common problem that affects the two hinge joints that connect your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull.

At Hometown Family Dental Centers, our expert dental professionals diagnose and treat TMJ disorders at our Fayetteville, Vass, and Raeford, North Carolina, locations. If you’re experiencing pain on one or both sides of your jaw, here’s what you can do to remedy the situation.

What causes TMJ disorders?

You have two ball-and-socket temporomandibular joints, one on either side of your jaw. They combine the open-and-shut hinge action with sliding motions. Within the joints are bones, muscles, ligaments, and a cushiony disc between the bones to absorb shock when you bite and chew.

You can develop a TMJ disorder if:

• The disc erodes or moves out of its proper place
• You sprain the ligaments
• Arthritis damages the joint’s smooth, protective cartilage
• You take a blow to the joint, causing damage
• The muscles spasm

One of the most common reasons for TMJ problems is bruxism, when you grind or clench your teeth repeatedly. Many people brux while they’re sleeping, which is an attempt to relieve stress. Also, biting or chewing on hard objects, including pen caps and fingernails, can strain the soft tissues of the joint.

Many times, the cause of TMJ disorder is multifaceted and is hard to identify.

Common symptoms of TMJ

Symptoms of TMJ disorders may include one or more of the following:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw
• Pain in one or both temporomandibular joints, especially with movement
• Aching pain near the ear
• Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
• Facial pain
• Locking of the joint, either open or closed
• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Eye pain
• Tooth pain along with jaw tenderness

As we’ve mentioned, TMJ disorders also cause a clicking sound or grating sound when you open your mouth or chew. However, if you don’t feel pain or have a limited range of motion in the jaw, you probably won’t need treatment.

Treating TMJ disorders

Sometimes TMJ symptoms go away without treatment, but if they don’t, your dentist can offer several treatments that may help.

Medications such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can be helpful to calm down joint pain and give you a break. If over-the-counter medications aren’t strong enough, the doctor can prescribe a higher dose of the drug.

Tricyclic antidepressants in low doses may be effective in easing pain, controlling bruxism, and helping with sleeplessness caused by the discomfort in your jaw.

Oral splints or mouth guards are particularly helpful if your TMJ problems are caused by bruxism. The custom-made appliances cover one arch of teeth and prevent the teeth from rubbing against each other, leaving your jaw joints more slack.

Physical therapy is another good option. Treatments can range from exercises that stretch and strengthen jaw muscles to ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Moist heat and stretching, applied together throughout the day, can be effective as well.

And we can’t stress enough the importance of self-care. You can apply heat or ice to your aching joints to relieve symptoms. You should also learn stress-management techniques, which will help relieve bruxism, prevent resultant tooth wear, and allow you to get good-quality sleep.

In addition, avoid chewing gum and gnawing on things like pen caps or fingernails, and practice good resting-jaw posture – rest the tongue gently on the palate, with your teeth apart and your jaw relaxed.

Are your TM joints causing you pain? Hometown Family Dental Centers can help with a range of therapies. To schedule an appointment, contact our office by phone or on the website.