Do I Have TMJ Disorder?
Have you been noticing pain in your jaw when you chew or move your mouth? Have you been suffering from headaches or migraines? Does your bite suddenly seem not quite aligned properly? TMJ disorder is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue diseases, which may cause the joint tissue to deteriorate. An injury may displace the disc, leading to TMJ problems. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is another risk factor. But often, there’s no obvious cause for TMD. The disorder can manifest in a range of symptoms. If you’ve been noticing any of the following, you may have a problem with your TMJ.- You have pain in the jaw joint itself or surrounding facial muscles.
- Your face often feels tired or fatigued.
- When you open your jaw, it locks in place and you have trouble closing it.
- When you move your mouth, your jaw joint makes clicking, popping, or grating noises (with or without pain).
- You’ve been experiencing ear pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), but don’t have an ear infection.
- Your face is swollen.
- You’ve been experiencing headaches and migraines.
- Your teeth seem like they don’t fit together properly.
- You have pain or soreness in the neck, shoulders, or upper back.
How Can I Ease My Symptoms at Home?
There are a number of ways you can help minimize your TMJ pain at home. Just remember that the more rest your jaw gets, the better. You don’t want to overwork it.- Both moist heat and ice packs held to the side of the face can be effective in reducing pain and swelling.
- Over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, are helpful for pain management.
- Don’t do anything that will tax the jaw or cause your mouth to open too widely: yawning, singing, shouting.
- Stress is associated with bruxism, which can lead to TMJ pain. Try to eliminate sources of stress, or learn meditation and relaxation techniques to help you manage it better.
- Gentle jaw exercises and stretches may help relieve discomfort.
- Stick to soft, easy-to-chew foods whenever possible. Don’t eat anything hard, chewy, or tough, or anything that requires you to open your mouth widely (like whole apples or corn on the cob).
- Try to avoid carrying heavy purses or bags. If you must, use a backpack or something that distributes the weight evenly. Or trade off shoulders.
- Try to keep your facial muscles in a relaxed state. Be aware of when your face is tensing up.
- If you spend a lot of time on the phone, get a headset so you don’t have to cradle the phone between your neck and jaw.