Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues can result in symptoms ranging from bothersome to excruciating. Such as teeth grinding and arthritis, several conditions may lead to TMJ issues. However, home cures, medicines, and other therapies are available to control TMJ issues.
This article will explore medications to relieve TMJ pain, including over-the-counter muscle relaxers.
What is TMJ?
The TMJ is one of the most complicated joints, allowing for various movements, including speaking, eating, and yawning. You can detect the TMJ by placing your finger in front of your ear and opening your mouth until you feel the movement of the joint.
The fact that TMJ problems are the second most prevalent musculoskeletal illness in the United States, behind only persistent low back pain, would suggest that they are effectively recognized and treated. However, this is not the case. Too frequently, TMJ issues go untreated or misdiagnosed for years due to the similarity of their symptoms to those of other conditions.
TMJ disorder symptoms to look for include:
- TMJ-related headaches are frequently misinterpreted as tension headaches. However, conventional therapies will not be effective when a TMJ dysfunction is the underlying cause of a headache.
- Discomfort or tenderness of the jaw and jaw joint region – Discomfort can range from a general aching sensation at most or all times to incapacitating pain during chewing.
- Uncomfortable or sore jaw muscles – The masseter is the principal jaw muscle, covering the sides of the jaw and immediately below the cheek. When painful, the sensation might resemble widespread face discomfort in the cheeks, jaw, and TMJ.
- Unlike infection-related ear pain, which is typically felt within the ear, TMJ-related ear pain is frequently felt in front of or below the ear. Also indicative of a TMJ condition is pain that worsens when you move your mouth.
- TMJ discomfort may occur at any moment, whether the jaw joint is at rest or in motion.
Sometimes TMJ disorder-related sounds can be so loud that anyone can hear them. The soft cartilage disc that cushions the surfaces of the jawbone may be out of place if you hear popping and clicking sounds.
When you have a severe case of TMJ disease, your TMJ might severely become immobile when your mouth is open or closed. If this occurs, get immediate assistance from a TMJ issue treatment specialist.
In most cases, TMJ issues originate in the jaw joint or muscles, but they can also impact the central nervous system (brain, behaviors, and emotional aspects). Once the central nervous system is engaged, the therapy of TMJ issues is individualized and personalized to the patient instead of focusing on the joint and muscle level.
Avoid consuming things that can cause jaw pain, such as nuts, hard sweets, and chewy foods like gum and taffy. When TMJ pain flares up, eating soft foods such as bananas, yogurt, and eggs might help the jaw joint rest until facial pain subsides.
Medications
According to TMJ Association (TMJA), NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, may give short-term relief from the jaw and muscular pain for many individuals.
Your treatment provider can prescribe centrally acting muscle relaxants to ease jaw pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder by relaxing the jaw and facial muscles and decreasing muscle spasms.
Numerous FDA-approved drugs for other disorders (e.g., depression, seizures) also function on the same nerves that cause pain and can help alleviate your discomfort. Tricyclic antidepressants may be prescribed to aid in the management of chronic TMJ pain. These antidepressants target the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Different subgroups of individuals with TMJ issues respond to therapy differently. Just because another individual with a TMJ issue has a favorable or bad reaction to a certain medicine does not guarantee that you will have the same outcome.
It is essential to maintain continuous communication with your primary care physician so that they can evaluate the effects of these drugs and provide guidance on side effects and drug interactions.
Some prescriptions have unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness or weight gain, and some medications may interfere with other medications you are already taking. Due to the potency of muscle relaxants, you will likely only use them for a few days or weeks.
Botulinum Toxin
It has been proposed that injecting botulinum toxin Type A (Botox) into the chewing muscles could reduce muscle spasms and pain by inhibiting muscle contraction. A scientific literature survey revealed inconclusive information about the efficacy of botulinum toxin in treating myofascial pain in the neck and head muscles.
Over-the-Counter Medications and Supplements
Typically, over-the-counter drugs are the first-line therapy for TMJ-related discomfort. The two most prevalent types of painkillers are acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). Before using any over-the-counter drug, including pain medications, you should always contact your physician.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
By lowering inflammation, NSAIDs have transformed pain management, making them a contemporary wonder. They consist of the following:
- Aspirin – lowers pain-, fever-, and inflammation-causing chemicals in the body.
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) inhibits the formation of prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that produce pain, inflammation, and swelling in the body.
- Naproxen (Aleve) – inhibits the enzyme responsible for producing prostaglandins.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – Alleviates pain by increasing the total pain threshold of the body. In contrast to NSAIDs, acetaminophen lacks anti-inflammatory effects.
Nondrug treatment options for TMJ disorders
In 2019, research performed by NYU demonstrated that self-care is highly useful for controlling TMD. For mild to severe symptoms of TMJ issues, at-home therapy alternatives like as warm compresses and exercises can be employed. Other treatment methods, such as mouth guards, prevent tooth grinding, which may exacerbate symptoms. In severe circumstances, a specialist may recommend surgery to correct a structural issue with the joints.
Read More: How Do You Know if You Have TMJ Disorder or Lockjaw?
Consult Garza DDS to learn more about over-the-counter muscle relaxers for TMJ
If you are experiencing jaw pain and discomfort, schedule an appointment with Garza DDS today. We can help identify the source of your symptoms and provide relief. Over-the-counter muscle relaxers may sometimes be recommended to help relieve TMJ symptoms. Don’t hesitate to contact our office to learn more about these medications and how they can help you.