The temporomandibular joint is crucial for mouth movements and is used for things like talking, moving the mouth sideways, yawning, opening and closing the mouth, and other functions. This joint links the jawbone to the skull. Whenever an injury or damage arises in this joint, it can contribute to TMJ disorder.
People with TMJ have mild to severe pain and may find it difficult to open their mouths. A patient may also have jaw clicking. Again, eating becomes a challenging task. You may be wondering how to cure TMJ permanently. Luckily, various treatments can help.
Custom-Made Splints
A dentist near you can design customized mouth splints that perfectly fit over the top and bottom teeth. These oral appliances are crucial in preventing teeth grinding and clenching. They provide a protective layer for the teeth, allowing the joints to cure without interruptions.
Once you get these splints, keep putting them on after the pain or discomfort subsides. Continue using them for more days to assist in the joint healing process. Make sure that you consume soft foods for about three more days before you resume consuming your favorite meals. It will help prevent tension in the joint.
Exercises
Some patients can benefit from mouth exercises. The exercises help stretch the jaw, thus alleviating TMJ pain as the healing begins. Before you begin the exercises, talk to the dentist. If exercises are worsening the pain, stop immediately and contact a dentist. The dentist may refer you to a physical therapist.
Among the exercises you can apply are resisted closing, resisted opening, side-to-side jaw movement, tongue-up exercise, and chin tucks. Besides these exercises, you can also try out specific massages and acupuncture since they can help cure TMJ permanently. A dentist will work closely with a physical therapist to see that you use an appropriate mouth exercise to relieve pain.
Surgery
An oral surgeon may perform arthroscopy surgery but only as the last option. However, most TMJ experts don’t recommend the surgery because of its invasiveness. When performing an arthroscopy, an oral surgeon will position the joints properly while resolving other issues associated with the joint.
TENS
TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It is a non-invasive technique for relieving TMJ pain. This treatment helps improve jaw function. The therapy involves directing low-voltage electric shocks within the painful area. A TMJ professional places a common mode current within the sore area, which allows the electric currents to move through nerves, relieving aches and discomforts.
Braces for TMJ
Since TMJ disorder is likely to affect the way teeth fit or come in contact together, a dentist may suggest orthodontic treatment to assist in curing TMJ permanently.
If you are asking, do braces help TMJ? Then, yes, but only to some patients. Braces can effectively treat TMD if the condition arises from issues related to the bite. Braces work to straighten and align the jaw, hence evening out and creating a balance in the contact of teeth. The orthodontic treatment adjusts how the teeth are aligned to each other within the bottom and upper jaws, thus eliminating pain.
How do you get rid of TMJ?
Visit your dentist near you for a thorough assessment. Before confirming what treatment options to consider to cure TMJ, the dentist will need to perform a detailed exam. It takes work to diagnose TMJ disorder. Therefore, it demands the helping hand of a TMJ specialist to establish the cause and plan appropriate treatment.
Sometimes, even simple lifestyle changes could do a good job is managing and curing the pain, such as reducing stress and avoiding foods that require heavy chewing because they bring added pressure on the jaw that worsens the pain.