What Are The Symptoms, Causes and Some Options for Managing TMJ Pain?

Do you ever experience pain in the muscles on the side of your face or in the joint where your jaw attaches to your skull? Do you ever experience “lockjaw” or problems completely opening or closing your mouth and jaw? Have you ever noticed a “clicking” sound when you open and shut your mouth? Do you suffer from seemingly unexplained neck pain, ear aches and even headaches that seem to be located near your temples?

If you’ve answered yes to one or more of those questions, you may be among the 25 to 30% of Canadians who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorders (based on statistics kept by the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons). Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that attaches your lower jaw to your skull on each side of your face. If you place your finger on the side of your face and open and close your jaw, you’ll feel that hinge and joint at work. 

What causes temporomandibular joint disorders and pain?

There are a wide variety of known causes of TMJ pain and others that continue to be investigated. In addition to those known causes, there are other known risk factors for increasing your risk of experiencing TMJ-related pain. Causes of pain affecting your TMJ in Okotoks include: trauma or dysfunction affecting the muscles that control your jaw and that connect your neck and shoulder muscles to your face and jaw muscles; damage in the internal portions of the TMJ joint itself, such as a dislocated or displaced disc; and degenerative conditions affecting the joint, such as arthritis. 

Risk factors that can increase the risk that you will experience TMJ pain — or increase the degree of pain that you experience — include: injuries to your jaw, face, neck and head; experiencing stress or anxiety; misaligned teeth that affect how your upper and lower jaws meet; and if you suffer from sleep or waking bruxism, a condition in which you clench your jaw and grind your teeth whether you’re asleep or awake. 

What can you do about TMJ pain?

There are several things that you can do yourself to ease the discomfort associated with TMJ pain. Self-help remedies, including: eating softer foods and avoiding hard and hard-to-chew foods; applying a cold compress to your jaw or the side of your face; avoiding fully opening your jaw; practicing stress-reduction and relaxation exercises; gently stretching your jaw; and performing or receiving soft tissue massage.

Dentists can help provide or ensure that you receive TMJ treatment near you. Does that surprise you? Tell your dentist about any TMJ-related symptoms you’ve been experiencing. A TMJ dentist near you may take x-rays and examine your face and jaw to identify teeth and jaw-related issues that may be contributing to your discomfort. Pain associated with TMJ disorder can often be eased or even eliminated by wearing a custom-fit nightguard provided by your dentist in Okotoks to properly position and protect your teeth. 

When it comes to a mouthguard, don’t rely on an off-the-shelf or boil-and-bite athletic mouthguard from a sports equipment store. Whatever value those have for protecting the mouths of athletes — and that’s something to talk to your dentist about, too — they are not appropriate for properly positioning your teeth to protect you from TMJ disorders and associated pain. A custom mouthguard designed precisely for your teeth and symptoms is essential. 

In other cases, making minor changes to the biting surfaces of your teeth and how they meet can also ease symptoms, especially in combination with a custom mouthguard. If symptoms or dysfunction persist despite support from your dentist, your dentist will refer you to other medical professionals to ensure that you receive TMJ therapy in Okotoks. Getting TMJ therapy near you may involve a medical team including physicians, physiotherapists, chiropractors or even behavioural therapists.

Don’t settle for a life affected by jaw pain. Next time you see your dentist, tell them about any TMJ symptoms you’re experiencing to see if your dentist can help or help you to get the help you need from another medical professional.