Available Treatments for TMJ

Sufferers from TMJ, or temporomandibular disorder, are sometimes surprised at the following treatment option: nothing. Because of its erratic nature and near-inexplicable circumstances, TMJ pain will often die out or correct itself. While difficult to prove, such a cessation may be more likely in cases where the TMJ symptoms are psychological, or stress-related. If you remove the cause of the stress, it follows that the headaches or jaw tightness go away in due time.

Of course, not all TMJ sufferers are this fortunate. Due to the sheer diversity of cases, TMJ treatment plans tend to look daunting on paper. Once a diagnosis is handed down, only you and your doctor can decide which one is best for you.

You may start off with changes in diet, eliminating high-maintenance foods that require lots of chewing or bite force. Ice packs and heating pads are popular destinations for all joint pain, not just TMJ. You can also self-medicate—exercising proper caution—with over-the-counter pain relievers and muscle relaxants. You may choose to microdose anti-depressants, but keep in mind this will have no effect on your depression and mental illness.

Clinically, there are treatments like acupuncture and biofeedback that stimulate and analyze pressure points and muscle groups. At the extreme end of things, you may qualify for an occlusal appliance, like a mouth guard or oral splint.

Ask our TMJ doctor in Thousand Oaks for more.