Constant, chronic pain is very difficult to deal with, especially when it is your jaw. We use our jaws all day long for talking, eating, yawning, smiling, and more, making it difficult to minimize the pain. TMJ pain can be debilitating day after day and only gets worse over time. If you are suffering from extreme TMJ pain and want it to go away, we are here to help. Keep reading for our favorite TMJ treatment tips and how to get proper treatment to get rid of your TMJ pain for good.

What is TMJ?

TMJ pain, according to Penn Medicine, is caused by the muscles and ligaments you use to move your mouth. These muscles connect to your temporomandibular joints, which is where your skull and lower jawbone meet. Temporomandibular disorders, including arthritis, dislocation, injury, or infection in your TMJ, can cause painful clicking and locking in your jaw, headaches, neck pain, and ringing in your ears.

For many people, TMD symptoms don’t last long, but for others, pain and discomfort when moving their facial muscles is chronic (long-lasting) and can be made worse by clenching, chewing, swallowing, or grinding teeth over time.

Tips for TMJ treatment

Depending on the cause of your TMJ pain and the severity of the pain you feel, there are some things you can do to help relieve the pain. Some of the best tips for relieving TMJ pain include:

Over-the-counter pain medication. Anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, can help with the pain experienced with TMJ disorders. However, if these are being taken for extended periods of time, it is important to seek other options for treatment.

Hot/cold compress. Just as we would do with aching muscles in other parts of our body, using a hot/cold compress can be very beneficial for TMJ pain.
Limiting jaw movement. Avoiding foods such as burgers or apples that force you to open your mouth wide, paying attention to teeth grinding, stopping nail-biting and gum chewing, and other jaw limitations can help relieve jaw pain. However, this can be difficult and unrealistic for most people who just want the daily pain to stop.

Proper TMJ treatment help with raio dental

The best tip to help with TMJ pain is to get proper TMJ and TMD treatment and stop it at its root cause. If you are looking for relief from TMJ and are ready to take the next step, we are here for you.

Located in Medford, New York, Dr. Raio is an Airway Health Specialist and Restorative Dentist. He has over 25 years of clinical experience and is a strong advocate of ongoing education, and remains on the cutting edge of the most advanced treatments available for the treatment of his patients. The clinic offers a wide range of services, such as general services, specialty services, and sleep dentistry.