The temporomandibular joint, often known as the TMJ, is a significant joint in the jaw. The TMJ is utilized for eating and speaking. When TMJ flare-ups occur, a person will experience pain and discomfort due to TMJ inflammation. This can have a significant negative impact on the individual’s ability to operate daily, which in turn leads to a poorer quality of life.
A flare up is either the onset of new symptoms associated with your TMJ issue or a worsening of the previously described symptoms. They have the potential to lower your quality of life and make activities such as speaking, eating, yawning, and sleeping more challenging.
Let’s look at what causes TMJ flare-ups, as well as the treatments available to alleviate your pain.
How to Deal With TMJ Flare Ups
The onset of new symptoms that are associated with the dysfunction of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or the worsening of symptoms that were already present is what is referred to as a TMJ flare-up. In many cases, flare-ups appear out of nowhere and without any prior warning indications.
Your temporomandibular joints are the point at which your skull and lower jawbone come together. The muscles and ligaments that allow you to move your mouth are connected to these joints. Temporomandibular disorders, such as arthritis, dislocation, injury, or infection in your TMJ, can manifest in painful symptoms such as severe clicking and locking in your jaw, muscle spasms, jaw pain, headaches, and neck pain, and ringing in your ears.
When exercising facial muscles causes pain and discomfort for some people, this pain and discomfort can be chronic (long-lasting) and can be made worse by clenching one’s teeth, chewing, swallowing, or grinding one’s teeth over time for other people. However, TMD symptoms do not last long for many people.
How Do TMJ Flare-Ups Happen?
The underlying cause or trigger can be different for each person who experiences a flare-up of their condition. Another factor that can affect how long an episode of TMJ disorder symptoms lasts is whether or not a doctor is actively treating the condition. The duration of a typical flare might range anywhere from two days to a couple of weeks.
Causes of TMJ Flare Ups
The initial step is to arrive at an accurate diagnosis of the TMJ condition or flare-up. The temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can be challenging to diagnose, particularly in the early stages when the unexpected onset of pain and discomfort may take the patient by surprise.
The temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can be challenging to diagnose, particularly in the early stages when the unexpected onset of pain and discomfort might take the patient by surprise. Because severe headaches and ear pain are common symptoms of a wide variety of other disorders in addition to TMJ, the diagnosis of TMJ can be made based on the presence of these symptoms in the patient.
Unfortunately, the only method to determine whether or not you have TMJ is to visit a doctor to receive a TMJ diagnosis. If you are interested in learning what causes TMJ symptoms to worsen, you will most likely need the assistance of a doctor.
Even though TMJ pain can occur anytime, the factors that trigger an attack are as different as those who suffer from it. TMJ pain triggers may also affect the duration and intensity of a TMJ flare-up, so if you’ve been living with TMJ pain for a while, you should make sure to avoid your known triggers. If you’ve been living with TMJ pain for a while, you should avoid your known triggers.
Eating habits
People who suffer from a TMJ condition should limit the amount of tough, hard, or chewy foods they consume. The pressure and exhaustion can bring on painful flare-ups in the muscles that are brought on by excessive chewing and exaggerated movements. Patients who want to keep their symptoms from worsening should maintain a diet of foods that are easier to chew, take more small bites, and refrain from chewing gum.
Hormonal changes
Inflammation of the joints can be brought on by either a sudden increase or decrease in hormone levels. This includes the jaw. Therefore individuals who suffer hormonal changes may notice pain and swelling in this area. This is especially true of the jaw. This is especially true for women, as their levels of estrogen and progesterone tend to fluctuate throughout adulthood.
Stress
One of the most pressing health concerns is stress’s detrimental effect on the body. When a person is put in a stressful environment, the body’s natural reactions can often lead to issues with their TMJ (temporomandibular joint). The painful swelling of this joint can be caused by an increase in the tension of the surrounding muscles, particularly in the head, neck, and shoulders. The frequent side effects of increased stress, such as clenching one’s jaw or grinding one’s teeth, as well as a lack of sleep, can make the situation even more difficult.
Poor posture
Incorrect alignment is a common cause of headaches, back discomfort, and even TMJ pain in certain individuals. A person has poor posture might result in a spine that is not aligned properly and a jaw that sticks out too far. People who spend a significant portion of their day sitting in a car or in front of a computer are more likely to have problems with their posture and alignment.
Can You Prevent TMJ Flare Ups?
It is essential to determine the root cause of your TMJ problems and get treatment for them to reduce the frequency and severity of TMJ flare-ups. If you notice that your TMJ difficulties are getting worse or if you are starting to experience more symptoms of TMJ, you may want to consider changing your treatment strategy with the assistance of your doctor or dentist. Changes to your treatment plan may include:
You are in luck since there are straightforward adjustments to your lifestyle that you can make to alleviate the symptoms of TMJ and cut down on the likelihood of future flare-ups. If done consistently, the following adjustments could considerably alleviate the pain associated with TMJ and enhance the quality of your life:
Reduce Stress
Because stress can cause unnecessary tension in the jaw, engaging in activities that provide healthy relief from stress may assist you in maintaining a position in which your jaw is more relaxed. You might benefit from engaging in activities like yoga, meditation, listening to music, reading, or one of the many others that bring about a sense of peace.
Avoid Certain Jaw Movements
You will want to avoid specific actions that could cause TMJ so that you can keep your jaw in a healthy position and lower your risk of developing jaw dysfunction. To relieve some of the strain on your jaw, you should avoid the temptation to rest your chin on your hands and try to keep some space between your teeth. When you can, further alleviate the tension in your jaw by touching the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which is located immediately below your front teeth.
Eating Soft Foods
You should eat soft foods, such as rice, potatoes, soup, fruits, cereals, and cooked vegetables, to give your lower jaw a break from the labor it needs to do. Don’t chew gum, and stay away from meals that are tough or chewy as well.
Using Cold Packs or Warm Compresses
If the pain is particularly severe, consider holding an ice pack against the side of your face for ten minutes at a time. The next step is to apply a warm compress to the side of your face for five minutes using a damp washcloth or towel. You may carry out this procedure on multiple occasions throughout the day.
Read more: 10 Things That Make TMJ Disorder Worse
Learn more about TMJ flare up by consulting with Garza DDS
Flare-ups can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but with the right care, you can minimize their effects. If you are experiencing regular flare-ups or would like to learn more about how to manage them, please consult with a dentist who specializes in TMJ disorder treatment. Garza DDS is here to help you get your life back on track and feel comfortable again.