Certain habits that might add to the pain. It may help to stop grinding the teeth, clenching the jaw, or chewing gum.
- Learning to cope with stress.
- Wearing night guards.
- Not chewing gum.
- Not opening the mouth very wide.
- Eating softer foods.
Most people have certain habits when they feel under stress. In some people, tooth grinding or jaw clenching, also known as bruxism, may add to TMD pain. There are other ways to manage stress to help ease pain. Biofeedback, relaxation methods, and therapy may help.
A plastic night guard fits over the teeth. It is often custom made by a dentist. It is worn at night to keep grinding and clenching from harming the teeth.
Gum chewers can have jaw pain because of overuse. People who chew gum should think about quitting the habit. Then they can see if TMD gets better.
The jaw needs to rest and heal. One way to do this is not opening the jaw very wide.
Eating softer foods may also help to rest the jaw.
References
Temporomandibular disorders. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons website. Available at: https://www.aaoms.org/docs/practice%5Fresources/clinical%5Fresources/tmd%5Fdisorders.pdf. Accessed May 13, 2022.
Temporomandibular disorders. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/temporomandibular-disorders. Accessed May 13, 2022.
Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) pain. ENThealth—American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/temporo-mandibular-joint-tmj-pain. Accessed May 13, 2022.
TMJ. Mouth Healthy—American Dental Association website. Available at: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/tmj. Accessed May 13, 2022.
TMJ (temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research website. Available at:https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tmd. Accessed May 13, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 03/2022
- Update Date: 05/13/2022