6 Effective Treatment Options for TMJ Pain

Not only do temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders cause significant discomfort, but they also limit your ability to chew comfortably and speak clearly. If you’re dealing with these symptoms, finding relief is likely your top goal. 

Here are six effective treatment options for TMJ pain, courtesy of our Smile Design Studio of Bethesda team in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, Maryland.

1. Physical therapy

Physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for TMJ pain. It involves exercises and techniques designed to strengthen your jaw muscles, improve your range of motion, and reduce inflammation.

Your physical therapy regimen may include:

• Jaw exercises
• Manual therapy (a hands-on technique that mobilizes your jaw)
• Posture training 

Physical therapy works best when you’re consistent. For at-home exercises for your jaw, set a reminder on your phone to complete your exercises each day.

2. Dietary modifications

During an active TMJ flare-up, it can be difficult to open your jaw to eat. Some foods — a tall club sandwich on crusty bread, a steak, or crunchy pretzels — can take your discomfort to the next level. 

Making changes to your diet can help reduce TMJ pain by minimizing strain on your jaw so you can get the food you need without exacerbating your symptoms.

During a flare-up, try a soft food diet with foods like:

• Hot cereal 
• Scrambled eggs (or scrambled tofu)
• Steamed, mashed, or pureed fruit and vegetables
• Soft grains, such as rice or couscous 
• Soup (hot or cold)
• Yogurt or cottage cheese

You may also find that eating smaller meals throughout the day helps to give your jaw a break from chewing.

3. Practice stress management 

Reducing your stress levels can help with TMJ pain if jaw clenching — which is often triggered by stress — is the source of your TMJ disorder. Managing your stress levels can target the source of your TMJ pain (clenching). 

How you manage your stress levels is up to you. You may find that exercise helps lower your cortisol, or you may prefer other activities like reading, knitting, or baking. 

Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and time management can also help lower your stress levels. Find what works for you and work that into your daily routine.

As a bonus, these practices won’t just improve stress-related bruxism, but stress management can benefit your entire mind and body.

4. Oral appliances

Night guards can help with TMJ pain by preventing jaw clenching and grinding while you sleep. We create a custom oral appliance for you to keep your jaw in the just-right position to prevent clenching and/or tooth grinding. 

You might consider this option if you have sleep bruxism.

5. Orthodontic adjustments

Sometimes malocclusion — a common dental problem when your teeth aren’t lined up correctly — can cause jaw pain. If your jaw pain is related to a bad bite, our dental team may review your orthodontic options with you.

Invisalign® clear aligners, for example, can address many types of malocclusion. 

6. Botox® injections

While Botox is often regarded as a cosmetic treatment, it can also help with TMJ pain. Botox relaxes specific muscles that are responsible for jaw tightening and clenching. This option can also help alleviate some of the headaches and neck strain associated with tight muscles.

Get relief from TMJ pain

If you’re struggling with jaw pain, clicking, or reduced functionality, don’t try to power through on your own. We’re here to help you get the relief you need. The first step is to pinpoint the source of your TMJ pain — whether that’s a bad bite or bruxism — and shape a treatment plan that’s right for you.

To learn more about the options to help relieve your TMJ pain, give us a call or click here to get started.