What Is The Best Treatment for TMJ Pain?

There is no single best treatment for TMJ pain. TMJ pain can be caused by a number of different factors. There are, however, some TMJ treatments that are much more common than others (because they usually work right the first time).

Often, TMJ pain may go away with no treatment. If your symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend any of the following treatments:

TMJ Pain Relief Medication:

The most common medicines prescribed for TMJ are pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, almost always of the over-the-counter variety, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen.

If these medicines are not enough to relieve your TMJ pain, your dentist may prescribe something stronger, such as a prescription-strength ibuprofen. It is extremely rare that prescription pain medicines are issued for TMJ issues.

TMJ Pain Therapies:

Therapies to relieve TMJ pain can include things like mouthguards to wear while sleeping, as well as physical therapy to get the jaw muscles strong and flexible. Other TMJ treatments might include hot and cold compresses.

Surgical procedures to relieve TMJ pain:

Only done in the rarest of cases, there are some surgeries that can help TMJ pain. These procedures include arthrocentesis, a minimally invasive procedure that flushes out the area to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts.

Injections are another option for TMJ pain relief, including corticosteroid injections into the joint. TMJ arthroscopy and modified condylotomy are two other procedures that can be used in rare circumstances.

What is the fastest way to relieve TMJ Pain?

The fastest, least invasive ways to cure TMJ pain is to nurse it from home without the need of doctors and treatment.

• Eat soft foods and steer clear of sticky or chewy foods.
• Stretch and massage your jaw (perhaps after having a physical therapist give you exercises)
• apply heat and cold alternately to your jaw

All of these TMJ pain relief tricks can have a big impact.

Of course, the cause of the TMJ pain may be more serious, so be prepared to seek medical help if it’s not working on your own.

What is the best medicine for TMJ pain?

The best medicines for TMJ pain are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. In some extreme circumstances, a dentist may prescribe something stronger, but even then it's likely to be a prescription ibuprofen, not opioid painkiller.

What can be done for TMJ Pain?

The first course of treatment for TMJ painis to try all the at-home remedies: the painkillers, the stretching, the hot and cold.

If that doesn't work, your next step would be to see a dentist. Most likely they will recommend a mouthguard that will stop you from grinding your teeth when you sleep. They might also recommend physical therapy as well as talk therapy to work through your stress: much teeth grinding is caused by stress.

Finally, the dentist may look at surgical methods to deal with your TMJ issues.

What happens if TMJ pain is left untreated?

The effects of not treating your TMJ pain can be severe and life altering--not so much because of the danger posed by the TMJ pain itself, but by the destructive behaviors that follow severe untreated pain. These may include alcoholism and drug use, as well as insomnia. And all of these things can, naturally, have a severe impact on home and work life.

So it's best to start a TMJ pain treatment regimen right away. Schedule a time with a specialist– CONTACT US TODAY