Jaw Pain Here's Everything You Need to Know About TMJ - Article Health

When I was a senior in high school, I developed a sudden, persistent pain in my left jaw joint. At first, I figured it was from something I'd eaten—pizza was a staple in my teenage diet, so maybe I'd gnawed too hard on some crust? But when the pain worsened instead of going away, I started to get worried, especially as the mobility in my mouth became more and more limited. I told my father I thought I'd somehow injured my jaw, but he was unfazed. "It's probably just TMJ," he said. "I have it too."

A Google search confirmed my symptoms: tenderness in the jaw joint and near the ear, pain when chewing or yawning, and possibly even a locked or clicking jaw. I took ibuprofen and applied a warm compress to the area, which helped somewhat. A few weeks later, my symptoms disappeared as randomly as they'd begun, and I forgot about TMJ for awhile.

What is TMJ?
Technically, this condition is called TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), a cluster term for many conditions that occur in the face, ranging from joint to muscle to ligament pain. But the term TMJ is more commonly used and specifically refers to pain in the jaw joints (also known as temporomandibular joints), says Nojan Bakhtiari, DDS, a board-certified TMJ and oral facial pain specialist based in New York City.

Because the surgical options are irreversible and not always effective, the NIDCR stresses the importance of seeking out conservative, reversible treatments first. As an initial step, try at-home remedies such as an ice pack or warm compress, over-the-counter pain medications, stress reduction techniques (Dr. Syrop is a big proponent of meditation to relax the jaw muscles), and, if teeth grinding is to blame, a bite plate or mouth guard to separate the top and bottom teeth while you sleep. Some people even find relief from over-the-counter topical products such as menthol and arnica applied around the jaw joint.

TMJ treatment
The good news? For most people, TMJ is "remitting and self-limiting, meaning it goes away and doesn't get worse," says Dr. Bakhtiari. However, there is a smaller group of people for whom symptoms continue to worsen throughout their life. "Those are the ones that need some sort of intervention.

Does TMJ ever really go away?
I'm not the only one whose TMJ symptoms typically ebb and flow throughout their life. "TMJ comes and goes for many people for a variety of reasons," says Dr. Syrop. "These problems by and large heal, and then a period of time goes by and they can be reinjured." Those same triggers—stress, hard-to-eat foods, weather changes, teeth grinding, or other habits—may be to blame.

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