Temporomandibular Joint Pain

The temporomandibular joint is the joint right in front of the ears on each side of your head that joins the skull and jaw bone. It facilitates talking, yawning, and chewing; disorders of this joint can cause headache, pain in the ears and the neck as well as trouble opening or closing the mouth (lock jaw) or chewing. A majority of people can deal with this pain through self-care strategies and non-surgical treatments while others might need surgical or dental procedures.

Causes

• The cause of TMJ disorders cannot be determined in many people. In other people however, several possible causes might be responsible.

  The disk between the joint and the bones can erode or move out of alignment. Arthritis can damage the joint cartilage. The joint can suffer damage from an injury or some sort of impact. If you have the habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, you can weaken the muscles that control the joint.

Medications

• Naproxen (Aleve) has proven to be the most helpful over-the-counter pain reliever for TMJ pain.. A doctor might prescribe a muscle relaxer like Soma for only a few days or weeks depending on the severity of pain since they can be addictive. Steroid drugs injected into the joint quickly quell intense pain and inflammation and are only used in more severe cases because of serious side effects from frequent use. Botulism toxin (Botox) injections relieve pain in the muscles used for chewing.

Therapies

• If teeth grinding is contributing to TMJ pain, wearing a bite guard at night can help. Bite guards can worsen sleep apnea symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful if stress and anxiety trigger your symptoms. This form of therapy helps you identify negative behaviors and replace them with healthy ones, learn ways to relax and manage stress.

Procedures

• Your dentist might even out the teeth to achieve balanced biting surfaces, replace missing teeth, or replace fillings or crowns. Arthrocentesis removes debris and inflammatory substances from fluid in the jaw through a needle inserted into the joint. In severe cases, oral surgery might be necessary. Common procedures are removing or fixing the disk between the bones and the joint or a complete or partial joint replacement.

Self-care

• Simple strategies like cutting food into smaller pieces, staying away from sticky or chewy foods, and avoiding gum reduce use of the chewing muscles and can go a long way in reducing pain. Ask your doctor or dentist to show you jaw stretches or how to massage the muscles on your own. Using wet heat or ice on the sides of your face can induce muscle relaxation and fight pain.

Stress Reduction

• Stress is major factor in TMJ pain and several natural techniques can help you manage pain. Deep breathing where you inhale through the nose and out the mouth can relieve stress. Inhale strongly enough so that your abdomen expands. Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and releasing one group of muscles at a time. Positive visualization, meditation and yoga are also great stress relievers.