May 2, 2023
Do you have pain in your teeth or tightness of facial muscles when you wake up in the morning? Do you hear a clicking sound whenever you open or close your mouth? If yes, you may have an underlying problem with your jaw joints, also called the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). But no need to worry; TMJ problems are preventable and treatable. This article explains five simple ways to get rid of your TMJ pain. So, read on to find out more.
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What Causes TMJ Pain?
According to the American Dental Association, TMJ pain can be caused by an underlying issue related to the muscle, bones, or the articular disk that helps move the jaw joints. Some of the common causes of TMJ disorders include:
- Imbalanced tooth bite
- Excessive teeth grinding or clenching
- Nail-biting
- Direct trauma to the jaw joints
- Bone disorders like arthritis
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
- Jaw dislocation
- “Overhanging” crown or dental filling
How to Prevent and Treat TMJ Pain?
TMJ treatment involves identifying the underlying issue. Dr. Mueller at Arizona Smile Design offers the following tips that are effective in mitigating TMJ disorders:
Eat Soft Foods
Soft foods like cereals, vegetables, rice, and soup put lesser pressure on the TMJs compared with hard foods steaks or nuts. If you’re experiencing TMJ pain, eating soft foods for a few days will prove immensely helpful in relieving the pain.
Apply Icepacks
Regardless of the cause, TMJ pain mainly occurs due to underlying inflammation. Hence, you can reduce the inflammation by applying icepacks over the affected side’s skin.
Take Pain Medication
Taking an over-the-counter pain medication may provide immediate pain relief and help reduce inflammation. In some cases, dentists may also prescribe anti-anxiety medications or muscle relaxants.
Avoiding Parafunctional Dental Habits
Parafunctional dental habits like nail-biting or teeth grinding put excessive pressure on the jaw joints and are the most common reasons for TMJ disorders. Quitting these habits will go a long way in preventing and managing TMJ disorders.
Dental Checkups
Suppose the underlying cause of your TMJ pain is an imbalanced bite due to overfilled dental filling or an overhanging restoration. In that case, Dr. Mueller will resolve it by adjusting the height of the filling and repairing the crown or bridge that causes an imbalanced bite. Therefore, regular dental visits ensure that you maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevent you from various dental problems like TMJ disorders.
While most of these measures offer a quick resolution of TMJ pain, these TMJ therapy approaches are only temporary and do not treat the underlying issue. At Arizona Smile Design, we believe in a holistic dental treatment approach - giving a beautiful smile to our patients while thoroughly treating the underlying issues. We offer gentle-dental and affordable dental services to our esteemed patients in a calm, relaxing, pain-free environment. No matter how complex your problem is, Dr. Mueller has a solution for it. If you are searching for a “TMJ specialist near me” on the internet, Arizona Smile Design is the right place for you. So, book an appointment with us today and let us take care of your entire family’s dental health.