Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs are commonly used to relieve the pain and inflammation in the TMJ and muscles of the jaw, face, and neck.
The best medicines for TMJ pain are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen. In some extreme circumstances, a dentist may prescribe something stronger, but even then it's likely to be a prescription ibuprofen, not opioid painkiller.
Commonly known muscle relaxants include Soma, Skelaxin, Zanaflex, and Robaxin. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) blocks nerve impulses (or pain sensations) sent to the brain. Diazepam (Valium) has also been shown to relieve TMJ-related pain.
Muscle relaxants.
These treat myofascial pain. This is pain that occurs in the soft tissues or muscles around the TMJ. Muscle relaxants help ease muscle tension which reduces pressure on the TMJ from tight jaw muscles.
Factors That Can Trigger a Flare-up
Injury or trauma to the jaw can most certainly cause painful symptoms to begin. Other triggers that may bring on a TMJ flare-up include dehydration, vitamin D deficiency, changes in hormone levels and even poor posture that causes tension on the TMJ and other facial structures.
Frequent headaches —a constant ache, throbbing, or piercing like a migraine. Clicking or popping of your jaw when you eat, talk, chew, or open your mouth. Ear pain, from a dull ache to sharp, searing pain. Neck and/or shoulder pain with or without muscle spasm, and reduced flexibility.
One of the reasons that TMJ/TMD is so hard to treat is that it can be caused by many different injuries, lifestyle choices, and conditions. Unless you narrow down the cause of your TMJ/TMD, you may not get the right treatment.
Supplementation — Magnesium is the holy grail of supplements for TMJD. I use one called Triple Calm Magnesium, a blend of three magnesiums (taurate, glycinate, malate). It's critical for relieving muscle spasms, tightness and stress. And it improves sleep.
Are there over-the-counter muscle relaxers? There are no over-the-counter (OTC) muscle relaxants in the United States. But some OTC medications can help muscle issues (like soreness), such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and acetaminophen.
TMJ Disorders Can Be Both Medical and Dental Problems
Arthritis is another medical condition that can lead to a TMJ disorder. However, TMJ disorders can also be a dental problem by nature, especially when it is caused by an underlying problem with a person's teeth.
According to research, taking magnesium supplementation is really helpful to get relief from TMJ pain. Keep in mind that magnesium has the ability to relax the muscles. As reported, most Americans have low magnesium levels, so taking magnesium supplementation can make a huge difference in that case.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs; one on each side of the jaw.
Untreated TMJ can cause constant tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, that can disrupt sleep and make it difficult to concentrate. Because our body's sense of balance is in the inner ears, the inflammation caused by TMJ disorder can impact balance as well, resulting in dizziness, unsteadiness, and vertigo.
Remember that for most people, discomfort from TMJ disorders will eventually go away on its own. Simple self-care practices are often effective in easing symptoms. If treatment is needed, it should be based on a reasonable diagnosis, be conservative and reversible, and be customized to your special needs.
Seek medical attention if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can't open or close your jaw completely. Your doctor, your dentist or a TMJ specialist can discuss possible causes and treatments for your problem.
The final stage of the TMD refers to a transformation of the temporomandibular joint to an extent that its function is substantially decreased or even disabled due to disease or injury.
Look for signs of confusion, clumsiness, weakness, aphasia or visual problems.
Red flag symptoms and signs
Persistent and worsening pain. Jaw pain in people taking bisphosphonates (or other medicines where osteonecrosis is known to be an adverse effect). Concurrent infection. History of recent head or neck trauma.
Generally, you can expect a TMJ flare-up to last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In rare cases, TMJ flare-ups can last for several weeks. If your TMJ symptoms don't resolve within this timeframe, talk to your orthodontist about possible treatment options.
Laying on your side: It depends on the pillow used, but sleeping on your side can put your neck and head out of alignment, causing TMJ pain when you wake up. On your back: For TMJ patients, the best position is lying on your back.
The incidence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in inflammatory arthritis is often underestimated, and experience in treatment among rheumatologists is limited. Three conditions have an affinity toward the TMJ: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).