Unhappy woman having a toothache in dental clinic
Overview
TMJ pain is caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder) – a complex condition characterized by temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull’s temporal bone. When the joint has a dysfunction, it causes pain and alters important functions like chewing, talking and yawning.
TMJ pain is usually centered around the ear, jaw, and temporomandibular joint. The pain can make it difficult to open your mouth and move your jaw side-to-side. It can also cause other effects like noise (grating or popping sound) when you open/close your mouth. [1] So, how do you relieve TMJ pain?
Can You Relieve TMJ Pain at Home?
In mild cases, you can attempt to relieve TMJ pain at home using over-the-counter medication. Paracetamol or ibuprofen are effective over-the-counter pain relievers.
Holding an ice/heat pack in a towel and placing it on the jaw can also offer some relief. Gentle massages can also ease pain centered on the jaw muscles since the TMJ is a complex joint with muscles, cartilage, and ligaments, among other structures like the jawbone.
It also helps to eat soft foods like paste, soup, omelets, etc., especially if the facial pain is worse when chewing/eating. What’s more, avoid chewy foods, gum chewing, biting food using the front upper teeth, clenching teeth, biting nails, and other habits that exert pressure on the TMJ. [2] Over-the-counter devices such as mouth guards can also be used to relieve jaw pain.
In many cases, home remedies for TMJ pain are short-term and only deal with the symptoms, but not the underlying cause. If you try the above and don’t get proper, consistent, or complete relief, it is time to try TMJ Physiotherapy.
TMJ physiotherapy is a special branch of physiotherapy that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions and surrounding facial muscles. As mentioned, the TMJ is a jaw joint that connects the jawbone to the skull, allowing a person to move their jaw and perform critical functions like eating, and talking.
TMJ physiotherapy is effective in relieving TMJ pain because of the following factors:
1. Strict focus on TMJ: The physiotherapy focuses on the chewing muscles, neck and head as these areas are interconnected and responsible for most TMJ disorders and their corresponding symptoms like pain. Unlike regular physiotherapy, which focuses broadly on musculoskeletal conditions, TMJ physiotherapy is strictly about applying the principles of physiotherapy strictly on TMJ disorders and symptoms.
2. Treatment is done by specialized professionals (TMJ Physiotherapists): TMJ physiotherapy is also effective in relieving TMJ pain because treatment is done by highly specialized professionals with in-depth training and experience on the complex anatomy/biomechanics of the jaw and related structures like the face, head and neck.
TMJ physiotherapists know how to conduct detailed assessments of the jaw, such as movement, range of motion, popping, etc. They diagnose the cause of intense pain and recommend the best pain relief exercises or remedies like relaxation exercises/relaxation techniques for eliminating jaw pain and boosting functionality. They also know the best pain management approaches, like using heat, an ice pack, and other pain coping strategies, and can also advise on postural correction to reduce strain and pain, as well as recommend different types of jaw exercises for improving jaw strength, coordination, etc.
Most importantly, our professional team can excel at a wide range of services, including manual therapy like soft tissue massages and release of the jaw muscles and related muscles. An intraoral release and/or myofascial release may be all you need to get rid of TMJ pain.
Important: If the underlying cause of TMJ pain is a dental problem like teeth grinding, TMJ physiotherapists can identify such problems and recommend the relevant medical professional (in this case, a dentist) to solve the problem. The same applies to TMJ pain with underlying causes like stress and anxiety. TMJ physiotherapists can refer you to the relevant specialists for underlying medical conditions.
If home remedies and other interventions don’t work, surgery for TMDs (temporomandibular joint disorders) is usually the last resort. Jaw surgery on underlying problem areas (open-joint surgery) can be done to correct alignment of teeth/jaw or other issues (like extreme jaw movements). Open-joint surgery is capable of curing severe pain once and for all.
However, nonsurgical treatment options should be the first priority before opting for TMJ surgery. Most importantly, surgical treatments should be recommended after thorough assessment and diagnosis by highly trained and experienced medical professionals.
If you have TMJ pain that will not go away after simple home remedies, seek help from a TMJ physiotherapist who has the training and experience in TMJ disorders.
Atlas Physiotherapy Clinic in Markham is home to registered physiotherapists who are highly trained and experienced in TMJ disorders. Book a FREE 10-minute consultation to get a personalized TMJ pain relief treatment plan. You can also call: (905)-470-0950, email: clinic@atlasphysio.ca, or visit the clinic in person (Google Maps) every day of the week.
References
[1] Mayoclinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
[2] NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/
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