Types of TMJ Treatments

Sometimes, you might have wondered what type of TMJ treatment you should seek?

The temporomandibular joint or TMJ is formed by the articulation of the mandible and the temporal bone of the cranium.

This joint is located below the ears on both sides of the face. It allows you to perform basic functions with your jaw like opening and closing it and it also allows you to eat and speak.

These disorders can be caused by a lot of factors but it is often impossible to pinpoint the exact one that caused it. Trauma to the jaw or an injury is the leading cause of a TMJ disorder. In addition to this medical conditions like arthritis, erosion of the joint, and structural birth defects of the jaw can also cause these disorders.

Types of TMJ Treatments

There are a large variety of TMJ treatments available. These treatments have varying levels of success and are administered depending on the nature and the severity of the pain. These treatments consist of;

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

These types of treatments are often recommended by doctors when the pain is in its initial state. These home remedies not only help you in relieving the pain and stress from your jaw but with constant care and management they can help in eliminating the disorder itself. Some of the most common home remedies are:

Avoiding the Overuse of Jaw Muscles

Adopting simple practices like eating soft foods, cutting up food into small pieces before consuming, and avoiding chewing gum can play a huge role in relieving the stress from your jaw muscles.

Stretching and exercising the jaw

Your doctor might recommend exercises that can help in stretching and strengthening your jaw muscles.

Medications

If these home remedies don’t help you out and the pain still persists, your doctor might recommend medication. Along with other nonsurgical treatments and therapies, these medications may help in relieving the pain that is associated with TMJ disorders.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Medicines like amitriptyline are normally prescribed and can be used in small doses to relieve the sharp pain that is caused by these disorders.

Pain Relievers

If common pain medication is not enough to relieve your pain, your doctor might recommend the use of pain relievers. Medicine like ibuprofen can be really effective in managing and treating the chronic pain normally associated with a TMJ disorder.

Therapy

If the medication itself is not enough to deal with the pain, your dentist or doctor might recommend some form of therapy. The most common therapies for TMJ disorders include;

Counseling

Counseling and education on the causes of the pain may help you understand the factors and actions that are aggravating your pain. Once you have a clear understanding of these factors, you can implement different techniques to avoid them.

Mouth Guards

If you are suffering from sharp pain in your jaw joints, your doctor might suggest the use of a mouthguard. A mouthguard is a soft device that is inserted over the teeth and it protects your jaw from sudden impact during chewing or biting.

These are the most common types of TMJ disorder treatments available in San Diego. You can get one from our dentist in San Diego…book your appointment now!