Jaw-joint pain can be a severe issue for children and adults alike. In medical terms, jaw-joint pain is referred to as TMJ or temporomandibular joint pain.

If a person faces issues while chewing, speaking, and even breathing, it is possible that it is due to the TMJ joint. It is a joint in front of the ears on both sides of your head and connects your skull to the jaw. Let’s read ahead and explore how you can deal with the TMJ pain.

Causes of Jaw Joint Pain

Previously mentioned as temporomandibular joint pain is a TMJ disorder that can be caused by several aspects, such as

Teeth grinding on a regular basis can lead to jaw pain.

Daily wear and tear

Arthritis can lead to inflamed joints, which may start to break down. Hence, people with arthritis can witness TMJ pain.

Gum or periodontal disease can also lead to jaw pain. Poor dental care can lead to an infection in the gums ultimately causing intense pain.

A toothache is caused by an abscessed tooth. There can be a pus pocket around the tooth, which is usually caused by bacterial infection.

A broken or dislocated jaw requires immediate attention before the pain gets worse.

Malocclusion (improper fitting of the teeth in your mouth)

In this, you experience severe pain in the joint. You may also experience headaches. Here are some other signs that clearly prove the presence of jaw joint pain.

Throbbing pain in the joint

Intense pain after an injury

Stiffness in the TMJ

Pain while opening your mouth

Pain that travels from your chest or shoulders to the jaw.

What are the different TMJ Treatments?

Well, the type of TMJ treatment varies significantly based on the severity of the pain. For example, if the pain is not that intense, the dentist will offer you the following solutions!

Soft foods: Always go for consuming soft and easy-to-chew foods.

Hot or cold application: Make sure that you apply something hot or cold to the jaw based on the weather on a timely basis.

Exercises: Do periodic and gentle stretching exercises of your jaw muscles for relaxation and strength.

NSAIDs: Go for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. These are available over the counter, and you can choose between ibuprofen and naproxen.

Avoid strenuous activity: Refrain from clenching your muscles and grinding your teeth. Moreover, if you bite your nails, refrain from that too.

Muscle relaxants: Take muscle relaxants. This is best for those who clench or grind their teeth.

Mouth guards: To avoid or reduce grinding or clenching, you can use mouth guards or oral splints. These dental applications can help you place your jaw in a favourable position. The best thing is that they are available over the counter.

Dental care: One of the best and easiest ways to treat jaw joint pain is to keep your dental health up. Make sure you brush your teeth daily and meet your dentist for the best health advice from time to time.

Injections: Painful muscle knots in the jaw can lead to severe pain. Therefore, injecting substances like corticosteroids or botulinum toxin can help get rid of it.

Electrical current: Don’t be alarmed as the electric current power is low. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a method where light electrical currents are used to treat the pain in the jaw muscles.

How to Successfully Diagnose Jaw Joint or TMJ Pain?

When you go to your dentist for a dental checkup or physical examination, they can diagnose your jaw joint pain in several ways!

Pressing on your face area to find any areas of comfort.

Analyzing your range of motion when you open and close your mouth. Further, they also feel the jaw joints during the activity.

If these simple tests are not enough, they may shift to advanced imaging tests to look at the joints. These tests can be MRIs, CT scans, Dental X-rays, and TMJ arthroscopy.

Conclusion

Jaw joint pain can keep a person from eating, speaking, and even breathing properly. If it gets worse, it can also be a cause of heart stroke. Therefore, if you feel any symptoms of jaw joint or TMJ pain, invest in the best TMJ treatments. Visit your dentist and take recommendations for medicines, exercises, and other surgical treatments, if required.

References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15066-temporomandibular-disorders-tmd-overview
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24447-jaw-pain