Temporomandibular joint disorder
Howis TMD treated?
If you have TMD, see your GP or dentist first for diagnosis and to discuss treatment options.
Generally, non-surgical treatments such as lifestyle changes and self-help physiotherapy-type treatmentsare tried first.
A small number of people with severe TMD may be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to discuss further treatment options.
Lifestyle changes
There are a number of self-help measures that can helpimprove TMD, including:
- restingthe joint by eating soft food andavoiding chewing gum
- holding a warm or cold flannel to the jaw for 10-20 minutes, several times a day
- doing a few gentle jaw-stretching exercises your healthcare professional can recommend appropriate exercises
- avoiding opening the joint too wide until the pain settles
- avoiding clenching the teeth for long periods of time
- massaging the muscles around the joint
- relaxationtechniques to relieve stress
- not resting your chin on your hand
Mouth guards
Mouth guards (plasticdevices that fit over your teeth) may be helpful if you grind your teeth.
These cover the teeth at night to reduce jaw clenching and teeth grinding, andcan be made to measure by your dentist.
You may find your pain improves for a period of a few weeks to several months and, in some cases, the injectionresolves the pain completely.
Read the NICE 2009 guidelines on artificial total temporomandibular joint replacement .
All joint surgery can have significant side effects and you should discuss these with your surgeon.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a problem affecting the 'chewing' muscles and the joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull.
What are the symptoms?
TMDcan cause: clicking, poppingor grating noises as you chew or move your mouth muscle pain around the jaw pain in front of the ear that may spread to the cheek, ear and temple difficulty opening
What are the causes?
Possiblecauses of TMD include: clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth during sleep (bruxism) which overworks the jaw muscles and puts pressure on the joint (often caused by stress ) wear an
Howis TMD treated?
If you have TMD, see your GP or dentist first for diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. Generally, non-surgical treatments such as lifestyle changes and self-help physiotherapy-type treatmentsa
Outlook
Most cases of TMDimprove over time and do not get worse, and most people will not need surgery. In the meantime, symptoms can often be improved with the treatments mentioned above.
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