Treatments for tmj include self-care practices like avoiding chewing gum or tough foods, stress management and pacing your eating, physical therapy and jaw exercises to improve jaw movement, custom mouth guards or oral appliances and medications that reduce inflammation or relax the muscles. These might include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen, muscle relaxants and/or antidepressants that change how your body interprets pain signals. In some cases, surgical options such as arthroscopy or open-joint surgery might be needed.
TMD can be a long-lasting condition, but early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the severity of the symptoms and their duration. The best way to get a precise diagnosis of your TMD is to see your healthcare provider or dentist for a complete health history and exam. They will ask about the history of your symptoms, when they started and how severe they are. They will also perform a physical exam of your jaw. They will check how your TM joint moves and look for signs of a problem, such as clicking, popping or jaw locking. They may also order an imaging test to find the cause of your TMD. This could include an MRI, a CT scan or X-rays of your jaw and the surrounding area.
Often, a temporary course of conservative treatment is enough to relieve your TMD symptoms. It’s important to see your dentist or doctor right away, so they can give you a specific diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that is best for you. They might suggest you take a few weeks or months off from eating or using your jaw and talk about ways to avoid aggravating the joint. If you have a chronic TMD, they might recommend a longer course of treatment or other interventions, such as a bite correction.