Do you often experience jaw pain when yawning or speaking or eating? If yes, there is a good reason not to ignore it. Jaw pain can be caused due to several reasons. For instance, it may be something as simple as sinus pressure or something as severe as Temporomandibular Joints Disorder or TMJ dysfunction, which impacts the temporomandibular joints, facial nerves, jaw muscles, etc. It is crucial to determine the exact cause so that suitable treatment can be performed.
There are several home remedies and professional treatments for jaw pain. This article takes you through the various jaw pain causes and treatment options. Let’s take a look.
What are the Causes?
Some of the most common causes of jaw pain are:
- Excessive teeth grinding or clenching
- Gum diseases, damaged teeth, cavities, etc.
- Sinus problems
- Stress-induced headaches
- Neuropathic pain
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD)
What are the Treatment Options?
Below described are some professional treatments used to treat jaw pain.
-
Trigger point injections
-
Corrective dental procedures
-
Ultrasound Therapy
-
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or TENS Therapy
-
Radio Wave Therapy
These injections may be administered with or without medications as per the severity of your case. The injections with medicine may include an anesthetic or corticosteroid, and those without may be simply used as dry needles, which when inserted, helps inactivate the trigger point and break up the tension. Ideally, a single injection session is sufficient. However, if the facial pain is chronic, multiple sessions may be prescribed at regular intervals.
The dentist may prescribe certain simple corrective dental procedures. For instance, replacement of missing teeth using crowns, bridges, braces, etc. to balance the biting surface of your teeth and rectify a bite problem to reduce jaw pain.
It is a deep heat treatment in which heat is applied to the Temporomandibular joint to reduce soreness, improve jaw movement, and relieve jaw pain.
This treatment comprises the use of low-level electrical currents to reduce pain by relaxing the jaw joint and facial muscles.
The radio waves are used to create a low-level electrical stimulation to the joint, which promotes blood circulation and alleviates jaw pain.
While you need to go to the doctor to identify and treat the root cause of your jaw pain, you can certainly try to reduce the pain with the help of these home remedies:
-
Hot or Cold packs
-
Massage
You can apply a hot or cold pack to the affected area. Wet a washcloth with warm water and apply it to the outer side of your jaws. Alternatively, you can place ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a thin cloth to apply on the outer cheek on the affected area. This can help the overactive jaw muscles relax and, in turn, reduce the jaw pain. You can also buy hot or cold packs at your pharmacy or online.
Use your index and middle finger to press the affected areas of your jaw. Rub in small circles five to ten times. Then open your mouth and repeat the exercise.
If you have been struggling with jaw pain for quite some time now, visit us at Thurman Orthodontics today. You can schedule your first complimentary visit by calling us on 559-439-0425.
Dr. Brian Thurman has spent his entire life enjoying all the beauty that California has to offer. A Fresno native, he still escapes to the ocean or the mountains whenever his busy schedule allows. Driven by his love for natural beauty, Dr. Thurman enjoys creating beautiful smiles and healthy bites that last a lifetime. He is proud to be the only Ivy League trained Orthodontist in the Fresno/Clovis area.