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If you’ve ever suffered through a period of chronic jaw pain, you know exactly how frustrating, limiting, and life-altering it can be. Between the loss of full jaw function and the daily discomfort, a less-than-healthy jaw presents big problems. What if you could prevent that kind of pain from affecting your life? By learning a little more about your habits and taking a closer look at your daily life, you can help put off jaw problems and prevent TMJ pain.
Unfortunately, for some patients, no amount of home prevention can stop jaw discomfort from taking hold. When you’re feeling like there isn’t a way to manage your jaw on your own, it’s time to get in touch with a professional. Scroll down for more information on Botox for TMJ at the end of this post.
Why Do We Experience Jaw Pain?
You know that we’re all unique individuals, and our jaw pain follows suit. What causes jaw pain for one person may not bother another. Of course, there are common factors that tend to lead to jaw dysfunction and discomfort.
- Arthritis – Several types of arthritis (especially rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis) impede jaw function
- Jaw injury – If you have suffered a blow to the jaw or other physical damage, components of the joint may not be working properly
- Bruxism – Chronic clenching and grinding place an excessive amount of pressure on the jaw and makes it feel fatigued and sore
- Certain conditions – There are connective tissue diseases that harm the jaw joint and cause pain in the area
- Lack of dental care – If a cavity progresses and causes an abscess, this can cause pain in the jaw. Other advanced dental problems will also cause discomfort and dysfunction. Regular exams will help you prevent these in the future.
- Stress – Stress can have a staggering variety of physical manifestations. The jaw is a particularly sensitive area and is likely to experience the ramifications of stress.
Home Prevention for Jaw Pain
Stress Management
We all take on a little more than we can chew from time to time. But if you’re overextended on a regular basis, that stress is going to get to you. Make sure that you take time out of your busy day to focus on relaxation and relieve your day-to-day anxieties. Relaxation is different for everyone – you will need to do some exploring to find what’s effective for your own anxiety.
Some people relax through exercise, and others find activities like meditation and yoga very calming. Others benefit from spending some alone time focusing on their own personal care, or creating artwork or playing a musical instrument. Reflect on your favorite activities and identify those that make you feel best.
Stress causes tension in many muscles throughout your body, with the most vulnerable being your jaw, neck, head and shoulders. When you have this kind of muscle pain, you feel more irritable and easily frustrated. You begin to feel like a different person. It’s common to lose interest in your hobbies and dread each day of work. But getting back to normal can be as simple as taking time to destress. You’ll feel better during the day, and sleep more soundly at night – and your jaw will get a much-needed rest.
Night Guard for Bruxism
Many adults clench and grind their teeth as a stress outlet – and they do it without realizing. This often takes place at night, so it’s difficult to notice what’s going on and seek treatment. If you schedule regular dental exams, your dentist will point out signs of grinding and recommend that you use a night guard to protect your teeth while sleeping. One noticeable symptom is flat patches on the bite surfaces of your teeth.
A mouth guard will protect your enamel from gnashing and grinding against other teeth. Some guards also stabilize your lower jaw to prevent it from moving at night. Your dentist will evaluate your needs and pick the guard that will work best.
Orthodontic Treatment
While not necessary for every patient, orthodontic treatment can be helpful for some. If the patient’s bite is not properly aligned, the lower jaw strains to fit into the upper. This can lead to strain on the TMJ, and potential disorders after years of harmful movements. The discomfort is likely to grow worse over time. Check with your dentist to see whether orthodontic treatment could be productive.
Schedule Regular Dental Appointments
As we mentioned, preventing serious dental problems will help you avoid jaw pain. This means catching issues before they’re able to grow. Most patients should see the dentist every 6 months, and some more frequently (depending on periodontal disease risk). Ask Dr. Hoffman what he recommends at your next exam.
Botox for TMJ
If you’ve tried a variety of options and haven’t found relief, we’d love to tell you more about Botox treatment. Therapeutic Botox has a wide variety of applications, and it’s especially productive against jaw pain. Injections to your jaw joint will help reduce clenching and stop harmful amounts of pressure from affecting your jaw. You will still be able to use your jaw normally, but it will no longer seize up and cause you pain. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out today.
