If you have discomfort or pain in your jaw when you open and close your mouth, or when you are talking, yawning, or chewing food, you are experiencing a common oral health disorder known as TMJ. The exact cause of TMJ disorder can be difficult to determine. But there are ways you can find relief, either through self-care at home, or in some cases, physical therapy may also be an effective and appropriate treatment option.
How Do I Know if I Have TMJ Disorder?
The temporomandibular joint, also known as the TMJ, connects your jawbone to each side of your skull. You can use a quick and easy method to self-diagnose whether you have a TMJ disorder. Position your fingertips on your face, just in front of your ears. Then open and close your mouth. If you feel pain or have a problem with your jaw moving smoothly, it is possible you have TMJ disorder.
Your pain can occur in your jawbone, in the hinge-like joint of your jaw, or in the surrounding muscles that control movement of your jaw.
TMJ disorder can include the following symptoms:
- Jaw tightness, difficulty fully opening or closing your mouth, headaches, or earaches.
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing.
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, pain in one or both temporomandibular joints, or tooth pain that occurs along with jaw tenderness.
- A clicking or popping sound when you chew or move your jaw.
Pain can be caused by several factors, including stress, teeth clenching or grinding, which is known as bruxism, gum chewing, nail biting, or jaw injury. Other health conditions can occur in relation to TMJ disorder, including different types of arthritis and fibromyalgia (widespread body pain and fatigue).
How Can I Manage Pain from TMJ?
While the cause of TMJ disorder can be difficult to identify, most often the problem is tight jaw muscles, an injury to the jaw joint, or the result of bruxism, the clenching or grinding of your teeth, usually during sleep. If you are experiencing significant stress or if you have some types of arthritis, you can also develop TMJ disorder.
The best course of action is always an appointment with your dentist so you can describe your pain and explore possible causes and treatment options. But you can also take the following steps on your own to help manage the problem until you can see your dentist:
- Eating soft foods should decrease strain and irritation to the jaw joint. If pain continues when you resume your regular diet, make an appointment with your dentist.
- Taking over-the-counter pain medicines can be effective for relieving pain in the short term.
- Applying cold packs or moist heat with a warm washcloth to your jaw area may provide temporary relief. Use cold for occasional sharp pain, and moist heat for a dull, steady ache. Hold it to your face for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Reducing habits such as gum chewing, nail biting, or chewing hard foods can also provide temporary relief. Such repetitive chewing movements can cause overuse of your jaw muscles and create irritation.
Also, you can stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles by pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth and then gently opening and closing your jaw. Do this only a few times per day and discontinue if your pain becomes worse.
When is it Time for Physical Therapy?
Your dentist may suggest physical therapy to ease the pain in your jaw and restore normal movement in your jaw joint. Most patients have few to no symptoms of TMJ disorder after conservative physical therapy treatments.