The jaw joints on either side of your head, called your temporomandibular joints, or sometimes TMJ for short, are some of the body’s most complex joints. Their structure allows your jaw to chew food, open and close, and move from side to side. Without your temporomandibular joints, you wouldn’t be able to chew, speak, or yawn.
Some people, however, have problems with their temporomandibular joints. There are a few conditions that can cause pain and discomfort when moving your jaw, which may indicate a TMJ disorder.
TMJ disorders can be chronic and uncomfortable, but are they curable?
Potentially, If You Address the Underlying Cause
TMJ disorders can have several causes. In some cases, an underlying cause can be identified. However, for others, a definitive cause remains elusive. Teeth grinding, a misaligned bite, and overuse of the jaw—such as chewing gum too frequently—may all contribute to TMJ symptoms.
Experts organize the origins of TMJ discomfort into three different causes [1]:
1. Myofascial pain, which involves muscle pain in the muscles involved in TMJ function.
2. Internal joint problems, which may include a dislocated jaw, disc, or injury such as from an accident or impact to the jaw.
3. Arthritis, which can affect the joints, causing inflammation and degeneration. Without potentially identifying a cause of your TMJ discomfort, proper treatment may be challenging. In some cases, a combination of factors may be contributing to problems with the jaw joints instead of just one factor.
Management and Treatment Options for TMJ
Fortunately, there are many treatment options for TMJ, and the same therapies may not work for everyone. Treatment for any existing conditions, such as teeth grinding or arthritis, may be successful at reducing your TMJ symptoms.
Physical therapy, medication, and oral appliances to help reposition the jaw may all be helpful for improving your TMJ. Orthodontic treatment and biofeedback, a therapy in which you better understand how stress or tension affects your body, may also be important parts of your treatment pain.
Lifestyle changes can make a big difference too, like avoiding chewing gum, self-massage for your jaw and doing specific jaw exercises. Applying heat and cold to reduce inflammation and discomfort may help as well [2]. A combination of lifestyle changes and therapies may yield the best results for patients with several underlying factors or indeterminable contributing factors.
You Don’t Have to Live With TMJ Discomfort
For those who are able to permanently correct the underlying factors involved in their TMJ, TMJ can be cured. However, for many patients with TMJ discomfort, lifestyle changes and management are the best way to keep inflammation low and promote proper movement in the jaw joints. Either way, you don’t have to live with TMJ discomfort. Have your dentist evaluate your TMJ to get started with a treatment plan!
Sources:
1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tmj
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/diagnosis-treatment/drc-
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