In a previous article, we talked about some recommendations for assessing and diagnosing your jaw pain. In this article, we are going to offer up some treatment options for TMJ and jaw pain.
Jaw Pain Treatment Options
The ultimate goal when treating TMJ is to relieve your jaw discomfort, but the way in which your provider designs a treatment plan to achieve this goal can vary. Their treatments may be designed to decrease joint inflammation, improve your overall posture, expand your jaw mobility, or simply get back to normal jaw function. The most common treatments to achieve these goals include:
- TMJ Mobilization – This treatment involves physically manipulates your neck and jaw to help strengthen and mobilize the joint.
- Exercises – Your provider can also develop a 10-15 minute routine of jaw exercises to help strengthen the joint and nearby structures.
- Postural Improvements – Your provider can give you physical instruction for how to change your posture throughout the day or during certain activities to help address an underlying issue contributing to jaw pain.
- Activity Avoidance – They’ll also walk you through some activities to avoid while your jaw is recovering and strengthening, like chewing gum, eating hard foods or biting pens, pencils or your fingernails.
- Ice/Heat Regimen – Finally, your provider may also tell you to heat or ice areas of your jaw for short periods a couple times a day to help with swelling or blood flow to the area.
The vast majority of patients see significant or full pain relief after about 6-8 weeks of physical therapy, so you’ll notice results rather quickly. To connect with a physical therapist who will do everything they can to help you overcome your TMJ or jaw pain, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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