TMJ Pain Treatment Options
To ease your TMJ disorder and symptoms, your GP/dentist might recommend medications and home remedies, including the following:
Anti-inflammatory medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Muscle relaxants
Applying ice or heat
Following a soft food diet
Jaw exercises to stretch and strengthen the jaw
Stabilisation splints or mouth guards
Botox
Surgical intervention
There are alternative treatments available, which aren’t as severe or intrusive as surgery or botox. These treatments are more holistic and are successful for many people.
Alternative treatments:
Massage
Dry Needling/Electro-needling
Intra-oral work
How can massage help alleviate my TMJ problems?
During a treatment, a range of different techniques will be used to help ease, sore, tender, restricted muscles. A mixture of Trigger point and soft tissue release are mixed with myofascial and deep tissue work around the shoulders, back, chest and face/head. Intra-oral work will target specific muscles attachments inside the mouth.
The Connection Between Trigger Points and the TMJ
Trigger points are tender spots of muscle, also called knots, which arise in muscles all over the human body. They can be caused by injuries, overuse, or even emotional stress. The muscles related to the TMJ may be small compared to a hamstring or bicep, but can also develop trigger points that cause pain throughout the face, mouth, jaw, head, and neck.
If a facial trigger point is relieved, many patients will also find relief from their TMJ dysfunction and discomfort. Trigger points linked with the TMJ can sometimes be found in the masseter muscles on the sides of the face, the temporalis muscles along the temples, and another set of chewing muscles called the pterygoids, located between the skull and jaw bones.
When one of these muscles is tense or affected by a trigger point, it can put physical stress on the temporomandibular joint that in turn leads to symptoms of TMJD. So while the joint is often the apparent problem, the root of TMJD sometimes actually lies within the muscles.
Myofascial release and treating TMJD
Myofascial Release Therapy is a type of soft tissue therapy that focuses on releasing tension, inflammation and pain in the fascia.
Fascia is one of the connective tissues in our body. It’s a spider web-like tissue that holds our organs, muscles and bones in place. It’s a highly sensitive tissue (it has more nerve endings than the skin itself) and responds to both chemical and pressure changes in the body.
Myofascial release has been shown to be an effective treatment method for TMJD, using both direct and indirect releases, thus reducing inflammation and tension in the myofascial tissue.
What is dry needling and how can it help my TMJD?
Dry needling involves a therapist inserting tiny needles into the skin and facial muscles in order to stimulate trigger points, or tight spots, within the muscle fibers. The needle’s placement causes the muscle fibers to twitch, which is thought to stimulate a healing response. Dry needling is believed to help with muscle and joint pain by decreasing tightness and boosting blood flow.
When dry needling is used to treat TMJD, the needles are placed to target specific muscles that interact with this joint – most often including the masseter muscles, which open and close the jaw to chew and are often clenched under stress.
Probably the most sought-after benefit is a reduction in pain and discomfort around the jaw, but it may also help with the range of motion, chewing, and locking or popping sensations that often accompany TMJ problems.
Some patients find another benefit of needling is an improvement in sleep, an easier time focusing without the distraction of pain or popping, a greater enjoyment of eating, and fewer dental problems. Although this may seem like an extreme way to soothe a troublesome jaw, it is actually very relaxing and works quickly with lasting results.
Dry needling may also help with TMJ triggered headaches - headaches are one of the most common symptoms of TMJD. In fact, TMJ headaches are often mistaken for migraines. If you commonly experience headaches but don’t find relief from headache-targeted treatments, consider that your TMJ may be to blame.
What is Intra oral work and how can it help?
This is a technique (which using gloves) allows us to reach the muscles and attachment points inside of the mouth. Treatment involves working directly on the chewing muscles both inside and outside of the client’s mouth, effectively decreasing trigger points and tension in the muscles affecting the TMJ area.
Intra-oral massage therapy treatments are an effective way to decrease TMJD symptoms, increase range of motion and circulation to the TMJ muscles. Many clients notice great results with this type of treatment.
