TMJ pain can be overwhelming and irritating. TMJ disorders usually go away on their own, but in some cases, you may need TMJ treatment from either a doctor or dentist near you. There are many medications that can help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ, but you must consult with your dentist before choosing one.
What is TMJ Disorder?
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a disorder that involves pain and discomfort in the jaw. Your temporomandibular joint is essentially a sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull. The pain that you experience in the joint can result from things such as jaw injury, arthritis, genetics, or clenching and grinding your teeth at night. Clenching and grinding are also known as bruxism and are usually caused by stress. Most of the time, TMJ disorders can be managed by self-care at home, including the use of medications and jaw exercises. Surgery is used as a last resort when other methods fail.
Types of Treatments for TMJ Disorders
Typically, your dentist in SW Calgary will suggest over-the-counter medications before prescribing you stronger painkillers. Most of the time, acetaminophen is recommended to ease jaw pain, but your dentist will recommend other medications if it doesn’t alleviate your pain. If you have significant jaw pain, you may be offered corticosteroids; however, they are not often used for treating TMJ disorders. Another option for relieving pain associated with TMJ disorders is Botox, which is injected into the jaw muscles to help relax them. While these TMJ treatments near you are provided regularly by dentists to relieve symptoms, not all treatment methods are effective for every patient. It is helpful to consider your lifestyle and home remedies that you can implement to provide you relief from the unpleasant symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Home Remedies for TMJ Disorders
There are a couple of things that you can do at home to alleviate the discomfort caused by TMJ disorders. You can attempt to be more conscious of the actions you take to cause tension in your jaw muscles, such as clenching your jaw and chewing on pencils or fingernails and reduce the frequency of these bad habits. Some other things you can do to alleviate pain include:
- Eating soft foods and cutting your foods into small pieces to reduce how much you have to chew. Try to stay away from hard and sticky foods. This will keep you from overusing your already sore jaw muscles.
- Your dentist can show you some exercises to strengthen your jaw and massage out your muscles. Doing these exercises daily will decrease your symptoms significantly.
- Apply a hot or cold compress to the sides of your face to reduce inflammation and pain experienced in your jaw joints.
You may also want to consider alternative medicine techniques as part of your TMJ treatment. Some alternative medicines that can help include acupuncture, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques.
Visit Bow Trail Dental for TMJ Treatment
If you suffer from TMJ disorder, you know that the symptoms of TMJ can be extremely debilitating and frustrating. Luckily, TMJ disorders don’t last forever, and with the right pain management techniques and medications, your symptoms can be managed. If you are interested in learning more about your options for TMJ treatment in SW Calgary, contact our team of dedicated dental professionals at Bow Trail Dental. We are happy to help you find the best way to treat your TMJ disorder and get you back to living the life you love.