Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) affects the jaw joints and the surrounding muscles. You have two TMJs, one on every side of the face. The joints assist you in moving the jaw, speaking, and chewing. Some symptoms of TMD include jaw pain, jaw stiffness, difficulty closing or opening the mouth, shoulder pain, headaches, and clicking sounds. The good news is that the condition is treatable. Treatment depends mainly on the cause of the TMD and its severity. Please read this article to learn different ways to relieve your TMD-related jaw pain.

Botox Injections

Botox is a neurotoxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxins happen naturally in contaminated foods and the soil. Consuming substantial amounts of botulinum or if the bacteria enter your wound, you could suffer a fatal condition known as "botulism." The severe nervous disorder can affect your breathing and lead to muscle paralysis.

You may be alarmed, but dentists use a certain type of this bacteria, or Botox type A, for dental injections. Botox is made in the laboratory, sterilized, and diluted. Therefore, it is highly unlikely for an injection to cause botulism when made and administered properly.

How Botox Works

Once administered, Botox blocks nerve signals, temporarily reducing muscle contractions. When this happens, your muscle’s capacity to contract and be hyperactive is reduced. A Botox injection means your TMJ cannot overwork anymore, because it breaks the cycle of severe pain while preventing additional pressure on your jaw.

Botox is an excellent option for managing pain. However, it may not address the root cause of your problem or fully get rid of chronic TMJ pain.

After receiving a Botox injection, it can take a day or a few weeks for the effects to manifest. The Botox can last for three months. You might need more frequent injections if the TMJ pain is chronic or your TMJ muscles are hypertrophic or very strong.

Effectiveness of Botox on TMJ Pain

The United States Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Botox for TMJ pain relief.  Consequently, most patients receive Botox injections when conventional treatment techniques do not work or their standard of living is significantly impacted. If you receive Botox injections, you should keep undergoing splint therapy, physical therapy and using medications to prevent or manage jaw pain.

Sleeping Tips for TMD Patients

As a TMD patient, it is wise to understand how vital the right head and neck support is. You should invest in a good pillow that provides support to reduce tension in your neck and facial muscles. Consider purchasing a high-to-moderate support pillow.

You should avoid sleeping on your stomach because it places stress on the jaw and could increase your chances of bruxism. The best sleeping position is on your back.

TMJ Exercise to Relieve Pain

When experiencing discomfort or pain from a TMJ issue, exercising the affected area can be helpful.

Here are exercises that can help lessen your pain:

Stretching Exercises

Some helpful stretching exercises to address TMJ pain involve:

  • Relax the jaw, then set your teeth a bit apart and gently open the mouth really wide while facing up. Remain in that position for some seconds, then gradually shut it.
  • Once you close your mouth, move the jaw left and ensure you are facing the same direction. Avoid turning your head or neck. Remain in that position for a few seconds, then switch to the centre. Repeat the same on your right side.

Rocabado’s Exercise Routine

Rocabado’s 6X6 exercises can help address TMJ pain through jaw exercises, as follows:

  • Resting your tongue — Put your tongue’s tip on your top palate, then apply mild pressure on it.
  • Regulate the TMJ’s movement — Open and shut the jaw, as you lightly push the tip of your tongue on the palate.
  • Harmonious stabilization method — Put two fingers on your chi and then open and shut the jaw as you press the tongue on your palate.
  • Axial extension — Raise and lower your chin like you are nodding
  • Shoulder positioning — Squeeze your shoulder blades together as you lift and lower your chest.
  • Steady head angle — Move your chin towards the neck, then press it outward again

Kraus’ Exercises

The Kraus TMJ exercises intend to restrict the activity of your muscles. They involve the following:

  • Positioning the tongue at rest — Put your tongue’s tip on the palate, just behind the front teeth.
  • Teeth separation — separate your upper and lower teeth, to relax your jaw
  • Breathing through the nose — Breath through your nasal-diaphragm for the best positioning of the tongue and teeth.
  • Tongue facing upwards and wiggle — Place your tongue to the palate, then wiggle your jaw from side to side.
  • Strengthening — Put several tongue depressors between the bottom and top teeth. Place enough depressors to give the jaw an excellent stretch. Stay in this position for about five minutes, repeated a couple of times daily.
  • Bite — Place your index finger on any upper canine tooth, then attempt to bite into the finger. Repeat this for 5 to 10 minutes, 8 times daily.

Relaxation Exercises

If your TMJ pain is stress-related, you should incorporate relaxation techniques to ease tension. These include breathing to reduce pressure in your jaw muscles: inhale and count to 5 or 10, then gradually exhale.

Here are other exercises to consider:

  • Resisted opening exercises — Put one thumb below your chin, then use the index finger of the same hand and put it between the chin and lower lip. Gently press as you shut your mouth.
  • Resisted closing exercises — Position the thumb below your chin, then put the index finger between your lower lip and chin. Mildly press as you shut your mouth.

Using a Mouth Guard

Whether using a mouthguard relieves your jaw pain depends on the underlying cause of the pain. Pain in your TMJ can be due to numerous causes, including challenges with your joint, jaw alignment, and muscle tension. 

If the TMD is due to teeth grinding and clenching at night, using a mouthguard may be the right place to begin.  A mouthguard can safeguard your teeth, reduce strain on your muscles, and prevent overworking your joints. If you experience any of these symptoms, a mouthguard might be a worthwhile investment:

  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Visible wear
  • Jaw popping or clicking
  • Morning headaches
  • A tense or sore jaw in the morning

Please note that wearing a mouthguard will not prevent you from bruxism. Tooth clenching is a reflex that originates from the central nervous system, and you cannot regulate it. However, a mouthguard prevents tooth gnashing at night from causing significant damage.

Here are the benefits of putting on a mouthguard:

Ease Muscle Pain and Jaw Tension

Bruxism affects your teeth, neck muscles, and jaws. Repetitive tension can lead to fatigue, headaches, and soreness. A mouthguard called a stabilization sprint can assist with this. It is a hard resin mouthguard that your dentist can adjust to mimic your healthy, functional bite, balancing your joints, muscles, and teeth.

It Supports the Jaws

Tooth bruxism at night causes strain on the jaw. On the contrary, putting on a mouthguard can prevent the temporomandibular joints from being overloaded.

You should choose the right type of mouthguard and ensure a perfect fit. If the bite is unbalanced, the mouthguard will make things worse. A custom-made mouthguard can establish harmony between teeth, muscles, and the jaw joint.  

Proper Computer and Phone Positioning

Your jaw joint is connected to your entire spine, including the neck and head muscles.

Here are the impacts of phone usage on your TMJ:

  • Phone holding—Speaking with your phone between your neck and shoulder creates an imbalance in your neck muscles. It results in muscle spasms on one side and exacts excess pressure on your jaw joint on the other.
  • Screen brightness — Staring at your phone exposes you to blue light, which can disrupt your sleep patterns. Inadequate sleep increases the likelihood of suffering from bruxism, which strains your TMJ.
  • Scrolling and texting—Tilting your head down constantly while scrolling or texting can strain your shoulder and neck muscles, leading to TMJ fatigue.

Extended hours in front of a computer can also cause TMD in the following ways:

  • Incorrect screen position—Using your computer when its screen is below your eye level can strain your neck muscles and create TMJ tension.
  • When you focus a lot on your play or work, you might unknowingly grind your teeth or push the lower jaw forward. The habits can result in chronic pressure on your jaw joint.
  • Using the keyboard in an incorrect position can cause tension in your back and shoulder muscles, which could then be transferred to the TMJ.

Here are ways to relieve your TMD pain:

  • Ensure your head is in a neutral position when using your electronics. Your phone should be at eye level, and your computer screen at a comfortable viewing angle.
  • Take frequent breaks from the gadgets. Stand up, move around, and stretch to relieve any tension in your jaw muscles.
  • Seek professional assistance
  • Use ergonomic devices, including a keyboard tray or a laptop stand, to maintain a proper posture while working.

Eating the Right Foods

The TMJ joints are tailored for smooth, well-coordinated movement. Foods requiring excessive chewing, prolonged jaw use, or wide opening can overload your jaw and the surrounding muscles. Over time, the strain can result in jaw pain. In other words, you should avoid tough, crunchy, and chewy foods.

Some of the healthy foods that can nourish you and are easy to chew include the following:

Fruits, including pears, watermelons, and pearsVegetables like carrots, squash, or asparagusAvoid tough meat. Instead, choose fish or chicken. You can also get protein from tofu, legumes, and eggs.Low-fat dairy products are vital for healthy bones and teeth. They are easy to chew. Eat a lot of yogurt, cottage, and cheese.A soft bread without seeds or nuts is ideal for you. You should also consider eating soft starchy foods like muffins, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes.  

Using Medications

Medications that can ease your TMJ pain include the following:

  • Anti-inflammatories and pain relievers — If pain relief medications cannot relieve your pain, your physician might prescribe stronger ones for a limited period, for example, Advil, Ib and Motrin.
  • Anti-depressants — The antidepressants include pamelor (nortriptyline), but in minimal doses.
  • Muscle relaxants — Your doctor can recommend that you use them for just a few days or weeks.

Surgical and Other Procedures

If other methods do not alleviate the TMJ pain, your physician may suggest dental procedures, including:

  • Injections — Your doctor may administer corticosteroid injections into your TMJ
  • Arthrocentesis — Arthrocentesis refers to a minimally invasive dental procedure that entails inserting tiny needles to remove unwanted material in the TMJ. If your TMJ is swollen or inflamed, the needle will remove excess fluid from your joint, relieving pain and swelling. Typically, the process takes approximately 10 minutes. However, it can take longer if you have to wait for anesthesia to work or if the dentist uses diagnostic imaging.
  • Modified condylotomy — It is an extra-articular surgery for treating TMDs, particularly internal derangement and non-reducing disc displacement.
  • TMJ arthroscopy — Arthroscopy surgery is effective in alleviating TMJ pain. The treatment involves a small tube, called a cannula, being placed into your TMJ. Then, the doctor will insert an arthroscope and use small surgical instruments to perform the procedure. TMJ arthroscopy has fewer risks and complications than open surgery.
  • Open-joint surgery — If your TMJ pain persists after conservative treatments, your physician could recommend open-joint surgery to address the issue. Nevertheless, open-joint surgery has more risks than other dental procedures. Carefully assess the potential risks before undergoing the open surgery.

Find a Knowledgeable  Dentist Near Me

Jaw pain due to TMD is a common source of discomfort for many patients. While TMD is not life-threatening, it can substantially affect the quality of your life, especially after your symptoms become challenging to control or chronic. Fortunately, the qualified dentists at Northridge Advanced Dentistry can prioritize your comfort by offering solutions and treatments designed to your oral health needs and comfort. We can also educate on different home remedies to relieve your TMJ pain and discomfort. Please contact our dental office at 818-701-3010 to schedule your free initial consultation.