5 Ways to Reduce Jaw Pain - wikiHow.doc

8/9/2019 5 Ways to Reduce Jaw Pain - wikiHow.doc

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How to Reduce Jaw PainFive Methods: Jaw muscle pressure release Relaxing Pain relief Heat or coldrelief Professional intervention

There are a number of things that can cause pain in your aw! "omeexamples of these include fractures# misalignment# arthritis# dentalabscess and Temporomandibular oint disorder! Temporomandibular ointdisorder# or TMJ# is the most common problem associated with aw pain!$t is most commonly caused by the grinding of teeth during sleep or whilestressed! TMJ can also be caused by habitual gum chewing and nail

biting! $t is important that you have any aw problems diagnosed by a professional as soon as they occur! Pain in the aw area could be

symptomatic of a serious condition li%e a heart attac% or angina!Treatment of aw pain is also necessary to avoid swelling# problems withchewing and limited movement! Here are a few suggestions for how toreduce aw pain!

Method 1 of 5: Jaw muscle pressure release

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To get rid of the pain you have to release your jaw muscles tofree up the ones that have tightened up and here s how to dothat release:

o Put your fingers on your head so your thumbs are behindyour ears!'ou can also massage near your gums# it helps(Press into the bac% of your aw bone next to the s%ull andhold that pressure!

o )fter *+ seconds slowly raise your head until your nec% isfully extended then open your mouth as far as you can!

o Release the pressure but hold your head and mouth li%e thatfor another *+ seconds!
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!pply gentle massage to the tender area" Rub the muscles alongthe aw line# applying gentle pressure to increase blood flow andhelp relax the muscles!

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#$ercise the jaw muscles %y gently opening and closing themouth repeatedly without allowing the top and %ottom jaws to


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contact" This can increase your range of motion and increase bloodflow to the area!

Method & of 5: Rela$ing

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Ta'e a deep %reath" -xhale! .eep this up for a short time! $t willhelp you to relax!

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Manage your stress level" /ounseling# meditation and exercise are ust a few options for helping you reduce stress that may cause youto clench your aw# damaging oints and muscles!

Method ( of 5: Pain relief


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Try over)the)counter pain relievers li'e acetaminophen ori%uprofen" Follow the pac%age directions! These are intended fortemporary relief only and are not appropriate for long0termtreatment!

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*oo' for gels or mouth swa%s containing +en,ocaine or similaractive ingredients" These can be found at most drug stores and

provide topical pain relief to teeth and aws!

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+ite on a cotton %all soa'ed in oil of cloves" $t contains antisepticand warming properties that help ease aw pain! 1il of cloves can

be found at many drug stores!

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!void chewing gum and eating hard or chewy foods li'e %eef jer'y- raw vegeta%les- nuts or candy"

Method . of 5: Heat or cold relief

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Place a hot- damp cloth against the jaw and hold it there until itis no longer hot to the touch" Heat helps increase blood flow and

reduce pain in the aw!

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/se cold pac's for temporary pain relief" /old can help numb the pain and reduce any swelling associated with aw pain!

Method 5 of 5: Professional intervention

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*oo' into the option of having a custom)fit acrylic appliancemade if your jaw pain is related to Temporomandi%ular jointdisorder" This fits over the teeth and prevents grinding orclenching! These appliances are most commonly prescribed for useat night but they can be used during the day if necessary!


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0orrect any %ite misalignment with orthodontics" "ometimes aw pain relief can only be achieved by ad usting alignment# bridgesor crowns!

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et a surgical consultation if all other treatments have failed" $fyour case is severe enough# oint restructuring or replacement may

be a last resort! 3igament tightening is another surgical option!


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ope for the future

What is the temporomandibular joint?

The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw, called the mandible, to thebone at the side of the head/the temporal bone. )f you place your fingers just infront of your ears and open your mouth, you can feel the joints. 0ecause these jointsare fle1ible, the jaw can move smoothly up and down and side to side, enabling us total!, chew and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control itsposition and movement.

When we open our mouths, the rounded ends of the lower jaw, called condyles, glidealong the joint soc!et of the temporal bone. The condyles slide bac! to their originalposition when we close our mouths. To !eep this motion smooth, a soft disc liesbetween the condyle and the temporal bone. This disc absorbs shoc!s to the jaw

joint from chewing and other movements.The temporomandibular joint is different from the body s other joints. Thecombination of hinge and sliding motions ma!es this joint among the most

complicated in the body. $lso, the tissues that ma!e up the temporomandibular jointdiffer from other load(bearing joints, li!e the !nee or hip. 0ecause of its comple1movement and uni*ue ma!eup, the jaw joint and its controlling muscles can pose atremendous challenge to both patients and health care providers when problemsarise.

What are TMJ disorders?
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/topics/tmj/tmjdisorders.htm#hopehttp://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/topics/tmj/tmjdisorders.htm#hope


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Disorders of the jaw joint and chewing muscles/and how people respond to them/vary widely. +esearchers generally agree that the conditions fall into three maincategories2

. Myofascial pain involves discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jawfunction.

3. )nternal derangement of the joint involves a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, orinjury to the condyle.

4. $rthritis refers to a group of degenerative5inflammatory joint disorders thatcan affect the temporomandibular joint.

$ person may have one or more of these conditions at the same time. 'ome peoplehave other health problems that co(e1ist with TMJ disorders, such as chronic fatiguesyndrome, sleep disturbances or fibromyalgia, a painful condition that affectsmuscles and other soft tissues throughout the body. These disorders share some

common symptoms, which suggests that they may share similar underlyingmechanisms of disease. owever, it is not !nown whether they have a commoncause.+heumatic disease, such as arthritis, may also affect the temporomandibular joint asa secondary condition. +heumatic diseases refer to a large group of disorders thatcause pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints, muscles, and bone. $rthritis andsome TMJ disorders involve inflammation of the tissues that line the joints. The e1actrelationship between these conditions is not !nown.ow jaw joint and muscle disorders progress is not clear. 'ymptoms worsen andease over time, but what causes these changes is not !nown. Most people haverelatively mild forms of the disorder. Their symptoms improve significantly, ordisappear spontaneously, within wee!s or months. %or others, the condition causeslong(term, persistent and debilitating pain.

What causes TMJ disorders?Trauma to the jaw or temporomandibular joint plays a role in some TMJ disorders.0ut for most jaw joint and muscle problems, scientists don t !now the causes.0ecause the condition is more common in women than in men, scientists aree1ploring a possible lin! between female hormones and TMJ disorders.

%or many people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reason. +esearchdisputes the popular belief that a bad bite or orthodontic braces can trigger TMJdisorders.There is no scientific proof that sounds/such as clic!ing/in the jaw joint lead toserious problems. )n fact, jaw sounds are common in the general population. Jawnoises alone, without pain or limited jaw movement, do not indicate a TMJ disorderand do not warrant treatment.


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What are the signs and symptoms?

$ variety of symptoms may be lin!ed to TMJ disorders. 6ain, particularly in thechewing muscles and5or jaw joint, is the most common symptom. 7ther li!elysymptoms include2

radiating pain in the face, jaw, or nec!, jaw muscle stiffness, limited movement or loc!ing of the jaw, painful clic!ing, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing

the mouth, a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

How are TMJ disorders diagnosed?

There is no widely accepted, standard test now available to correctly diagnose TMJ

disorders. 0ecause the e1act causes and symptoms are not clear, identifying thesedisorders can be difficult and confusing. 8urrently, health care providers note thepatient s description of symptoms, ta!e a detailed medical and dental history, ande1amine problem areas, including the head, nec!, face, and jaw. )maging studiesmay also be recommended.9ou may want to consult your doctor to rule out other !nown causes of pain. %acialpain can be a symptom of many conditions, such as sinus or ear infections, varioustypes of headaches, and facial neuralgias :nerve(related facial pain;. +uling outthese problems first helps in identifying TMJ disorders.

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How are TMJ disorders treated?

0ecause more studies are needed on the safety and effectiveness of mosttreatments for jaw joint and muscle disorders, e1perts strongly recommend using themost conservative, reversible treatments possible. 8onservative treatments do notinvade the tissues of the face, jaw, or joint, or involve surgery. +eversible treatmentsdo not cause permanent changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth.


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applying ice pac!s, avoiding e1treme jaw movements :such as wide yawning, loud singing, and

gum chewing;, learning techni*ues for rela1ing and reducing stress, practicing gentle jaw stretching and rela1ing e1ercises that may help increase

jaw movement. 9our health care provider or a physical therapist can recommende1ercises if appropriate for your particular condition.

Pain Medications%or many people with TMJ disorders, short(term use of over(the(counter painmedicines or nonsteroidal anti(inflammatory drugs :='$)Ds;, such as ibuprofen, mayprovide temporary relief from jaw discomfort. When necessary, your dentist orphysician can prescribe stronger pain or anti(inflammatory medications, musclerela1ants, or anti(depressants to help ease symptoms.Stabilization Splints

9our physician or dentist may recommend an oral appliance, also called astabili>ation splint or bite guard, which is a plastic guard that fits over the upper orlower teeth. 'tabili>ation splints are the most widely used treatments for TMJdisorders. 'tudies of their effectiveness in providing pain relief, however, have beeninconclusive. )f a stabili>ation splint is recommended, it should be used only for ashort time and should not cause permanent changes in the bite. )f a splint causes orincreases pain, or affects your bite, stop using it and see your health care provider.The conservative, reversible treatments described are useful for temporary relief ofpain ? they are not cures for TMJ disorders. )f symptoms continue over time, comebac! often, or worsen, tell your doctor.

Botox0oto1@ :botulinum to1in type $; is a drug made from the same bacterium thatcauses food poisoning. sed in small doses, 0oto1 injections can actually helpalleviate some health problems and have been approved by the %ood and Drug

$dministration :%D$; for certain disorders. owever, 0oto1 is currently not approvedby the %D$ for use in TMJ disorders.+esults from recent clinical studies are inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of0oto1 for treatment of chronic TMJ disorders. $dditional research is under way to

learn how 0oto1 specifically affects jaw muscles and their nerves. The findings willhelp determine if this drug may be useful in treating TMJ disorders. rreversible Treatments

)rreversible treatments that have not been proven to be effective ? and may ma!ethe problem worse ? include orthodontics to change the biteA crown and bridge wor!


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to balance the biteA grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance, calledBocclusal adjustment"A and repositioning splints, also called orthotics, whichpermanently alter the bite.Surgery 7ther types of treatments, such as surgical procedures, invade the tissues. 'urgicaltreatments are controversial, often irreversible, and should be avoided wherepossible. There have been no long(term clinical trials to study the safety andeffectiveness of surgical treatments for TMJ disorders. =or are there standards toidentify people who would most li!ely benefit from surgery. %ailure to respond toconservative treatments, for e1ample, does not automatically mean that surgery isnecessary. )f surgery is recommended, be sure to have the doctor e1plain to you, inwords you can understand, the reason for the treatment, the ris!s involved, andother types of treatment that may be available.Implants

'urgical replacement of jaw joints with artificial implants may cause severe pain andpermanent jaw damage. 'ome of these devices may fail to function properly or maybrea! apart in the jaw over time. )f you have already had temporomandibular jointsurgery, be very cautious about considering additional operations. 6ersonsundergoing multiple surgeries on the jaw joint generally have a poor outloo! fornormal, pain(free joint function. 0efore undergoing any surgery on the jaw joint, it ise1tremely important to get other independent opinions and to fully understand theris!s.The .'. %ood and Drug $dministration :%D$; monitors the safety and effectivenessof medical devices implanted in the body, including artificial jaw joint implants.6atients and their health care providers can report serious problems with TMJimplants to the %D$ through MedWatch at www.fda.gov5medwatch or telephone toll(free at (C##(443( #CC.

! you thin" you have a TMJ disorder###

+emember that for most people, discomfort from TMJ disorders will eventually goaway on its own. 'imple self(care practices are often effective in easing symptoms. )f treatment is needed, it should be based on a reasonable diagnosis, be conservativeand reversible, and be customi>ed to your special needs. $void treatments that cancause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. )f irreversible treatments arerecommended, be sure to get a reliable, independent second opinion.0ecause there is no certified specialty for TMJ disorders in either dentistry ormedicine, finding the right care can be difficult. oo! for a health care provider whounderstands musculos!eletal disorders :affecting muscle, bone and joints; and whois trained in treating pain conditions. 6ain clinics in hospitals and universities are
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often a good source of advice, particularly when pain continues over time andinterferes with daily life. 8omple1 cases, often mar!ed by prolonged, persistent andsevere painA jaw dysfunctionA co(e1isting conditionsA and diminished *uality of life,li!ely re*uire a team of e1perts from various fields, such as neurology, rheumatology,pain management and others, to diagnose and treat this condition.

$esearch

The =ational )nstitute of Dental and 8raniofacial +esearch :=)D8+;, one of the=ational )nstitutes of ealth :=) ;, leads the federal research effort ontemporomandibular joint and muscle disorders. )n a landmar! study, =)D8+ istrac!ing healthy people over time to identify ris! factors that contribute to thedevelopment of these conditions. 6reliminary results from this study have identified aseries of clinical, psychological, sensory, genetic and nervous system factors that

may increase the ris! of having chronic TMJ disorders. These new findings e1pandour scientific understanding of the onset and natural course of TMJ disorders andmay lead to new diagnostic and treatment approaches.

$dditionally, researchers are using data from a TMJ implant registry and repositorythat collected health information from patients who received implants and from thosewho had implants removed. +ecent studies using the data have helped researchersplan for new pain medication trials and other research projects.%ain &tudies

0ecause pain is the major symptom of these conditions, =) scientists are

conducting a wide range of studies to better understand the pain process, including2 understanding the nature of facial pain in TMJ disorders and what it may hold

in common with other pain conditions, such as headache and widespread musclepain,

e1ploring differences between men and women in how they respond to painand to pain medications,

pinpointing factors that lead to chronic or persistent jaw joint and muscle pain, e1amining the effects of stressors, such as noise, cold and physical stress, on

pain symptoms in patients with TMJ disorders to learn how lifestyle adjustments candecrease pain,

identifying medications, or combinations of medications and conservativetreatments, that will provide effective chronic pain relief,

investigating possible lin!s between osteoarthritis and a history of orofacialpain.

$eplacement %arts+esearch is also under way to grow human tissue in the laboratory to replacedamaged cartilage in the jaw joint. 7ther studies are aimed at developing safer, more


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