Can TMJ Jaw Pain Be Cured?

Question:

Dr. Sam, can TMJ jaw pain be cured? My dentist said that at best it can be managed, never cured. This really makes me depressed!

Answer:

There is no reason to be depressed. Your dentist said “that at best it can be managed” and that can mean complete relief of pain and discomfort for very long periods of time. Many past TMJ patients are now quite comfortable and have moved on with their lives because they are functioning normally.

TMJ jaw pain can be a continuing problem because there is permanent damage to the jaw joint but keep in mind, that as you grow older, permanent damage to all of your body parts, from your skin, to your organs and teeth is actually a normal product of aging. Don’t get depressed over it, learn to enjoy the life that your were given.

The TMJ is the only joint in the body with a physiological component. All other body joints are mechanically functional but the TMJ is effected by our moods, anxiety, depression and events. We clench and grind more when we are stressed. This puts more pressure and potential damage to the TMJ.

Some of my best TMJ tips are as follows:

• Don’t unnecessarily stress the TMJ or jaw joint.
• Don’t chew gum, eat big thick sandwitches that cause the TMJ to open wide, don’t choose foods that require a lot of chewing as steaks or nuts.
• If the TMJ is painful, try taking it easy on the jaw joint as you would with any injury. Give it a rest, follow the instructions from your dentist and you may find that the pain disappears.

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