TMJ Treatment in Flemington, NJ
More and more people are experiencing jaw pain, migraines, facial pain, ear ringing, and pain. In most cases, the pain is related to TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and can be helped with TMJ treatment.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint TMJ (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) are joints on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears, that connect the lower jawbone to the skull. TMJ helps with movements like opening your mouth, chewing, and talking.
What is TMD?
TMD is a temporomandibular joint disorder and refers to any TMJ dysfunction. Many people use both terms (TMJ and TMD) interchangeably.TMJ disorders occur when the muscles and ligaments around the jaw joints become inflamed and irritated.
Most TMJ patients clench or grind their upper and lower teeth, causing the face and jaw muscles to tighten and the culprit of facial pain. When there is a TMJ disorder, it can cause an extraordinary amount of pain. For this reason, we have five tips to help relieve the pain so you can be at ease.
Read our five tips you can perform at home to help relax the muscles and reduce the pain from your dentist in Flemington.
#1 Over-the-counter pain relievers
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen may provide temporary relief. Anti-inflammatories block pain and help reduce swelling in the joints and muscles around your jaw so you can begin healing.
#2 Hot and cold therapy
Applying hot or cold packs to the affected joint may provide relief. Cold can reduce swelling, while heat can soothe and help the muscles relax and increase blood circulation.
#3 Soft Foods Diet
Eating soft foods like soups, smoothies, and pasta can relieve pain, especially when you notice a flare-up in pain and clicking. Excessive chewing may exacerbate the issue, so taking smaller bites and avoiding chewy, crunchy, or hard foods is often best.
#4 Jaw Exercises & Massage
Sometimes the best way to help yourself is to put in the work. Some helpful jaw exercises fall into three categories: strengthening, relaxing, and stretching. Daily routines can significantly reduce TMD pain. Click here for the TMJ exercises that can help relax your jaw.
Applying gentle pressure to the jaw can relax tight, achy muscles and promote blood flow to the area. Try massaging the inflamed areas with light pressure while opening and closing your mouth. Massage the surrounding muscles, such as the neck, to reduce excess strain.
#5 Basic lifestyle changes
It is essential to look at your lifestyle and see what habits may contribute to your symptoms. TMD can also worsen by chewing gum, stomach sleeping, jaw clenching from stress, and nervous habits like fingernail or pencil chewing.
#6 Neuromuscular Dentistry
TMD may be caused or made worse by repetitive jaw movements like grinding the teeth at night while sleeping. Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on the muscles, nerves, and the correct positioning of the jaw. This approach is similar to physical therapy and can help treat TMD and provide more comfortable and longer-lasting solutions.
#7 Bite Splints
A bite splint helps treat TMD at its source: your mouth and jaws. Tooth-on-tooth wear from malocclusion can cause irreversible damage. A splint can save your smile!
Splints slightly reposition your teeth and jaw to create space between them. When at rest, your lips should be touching, but your teeth shouldn’t. Unfortunately, a lot of us clench our teeth tightly together. A splint acts as a buffer and moves your TMJ into a natural resting position forcing it to relax.
Visit DeLorenzo Dentistry for TMJ Treatment
At DeLorenzo Dentistry, we want to help our patients find quick relief from pain, migraines, facial pain, and ear pain with TMJ treatment.
Dr. DeLorenzo has received special occlusion training and TMJ treatment with bite splints at the Pankey Institute to address TMD problems. He can help you find pain relief options that work best for you to help relieve the symptoms associated with TMD.
