TMJ is worse at night because that's when you're prone to grind your teeth and clench your jaw.
Settling down to sleep should be a relaxing ritual after a long day. Unfortunately, if you have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), turning in for the night may be anything but serene. Many TMD patients find that their TMD symptoms, such as jaw pain, headaches, and back and neck pain are actually worse at night.
Strain on the head, neck, face or jaw can worsen TMJ symptoms. Waking up with increased levels of jaw pain can be a sign that sleep position is making symptoms worse. How a person positions the body during sleep can affect multiple factors that contribute to jaw pain: Teeth grinding and clenching.
While there are several reasons a patient can experience sudden or severe jaw pain, inflammation and overworked muscles tend to be the most common causes of TMJ flare-ups. Many physical changes and lifestyle habits can contribute to swelling around the joint and muscle tension.
It's worth noting that most cases of TMJ are only temporary and do not get worse. If your jaw pain comes and goes throughout the day, can be relieved by over-the-counter pain medication or doesn't bother you for extended periods, you are likely dealing with a less serious form of temporary TMJ.
The recovery period from TMJ disorder treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the type of treatment you choose. In most cases, relief from symptoms can start within a few weeks, but it may take several months for a full recovery.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
It's easy to see why dysfunction in these nerves is often mistaken for TMJ disorder. When the trigeminal nerves are irritated, it causes sharp pain in the face, teeth, and around the ear, along with numbness or tingling—but only on one side of the face.
TMJ can flare up at any time, and the condition can commonly last between two days and a few weeks. Consuming soft foods and applying cool or hot packs to your facial area can help to relieve pain but are not a permanent fix.
TMJ symptoms last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. Some TMJ disorders can last months or years. This text opens a new tab to the WebMD website…, such as those caused by teeth grinding and arthritis.
Maintain the resting position of your jaw
To help alleviate TMJ pain, minimize wide jaw movements, such as chewing, yawning, singing, and yelling. Do your best to keep your muscles as relaxed as possible.
TMJ pain can be on one side or both sides. It all depends on where the pain is located. If the pain is located on one side of the face, the problem is likely to originate from that side. However, if the pain is spread across both sides of the face, it is less likely that the problem originates from one specific side.
Laying on your side with a hand under your pillow can also exacerbate the symptoms of TMD. This damaging sleep position creates a misalignment for your head and neck, making TMJ pain very likely. The best sleep position for TMD is sleeping on your back in order to keep your head and neck properly aligned.
Always try to make sure that the tip of your tongue sits between your teeth, as this will enable the muscles in your jaw to relax. It is also important to stop or at least reduce habits that involve you clenching your jaw, such as chewing gum.
TMJ pain can be caused by a number of factors, including clenching your jaw, yelling, or biting your tongue. In such cases, the first thing you need to do is relax. Try not to use your jaw muscles as your jaw joints need to relax to avoid painful symptoms.
Try a different pillow- Your pillow could be aggravating your TMJ condition. If it's worn out, too thick, or too hard, it could be aggravating your condition. Some pillows have been designed specifically to address TMJ disorders.
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.
Although leaving your TMJ untreated is not life-threatening, it can lead to high levels of discomfort, tension, and chronic pain. And these can greatly interfere with your quality of life.
A TMJ disorder may last from few days to lifetime.
Since there are numerous causes of a TMJ disorder, its duration can also vary significantly. For example, TMJ pain might stay for two weeks and never return. Usually, TMJ signs will go away in no more than three weeks. But those caused by bruxism or arthritis can stay for a few months or even years.
Minor TMJ discomfort will usually go away without treatment. However, anyone with the following TMJ symptoms should consider an evaluation to prevent or avoid future issues: Constant or repeated episodes of pain or tenderness at the TMJ or in and around the ear. Discomfort or pain while chewing.
Simple acts like chewing, talking excessively or yawning can make the symptoms worse.
Things that make TMJ dysfunction worse
Poor posture. (This can place excess pressure on your neck, shoulder and facial muscles.) Chewing on pens, pencils or other items (a common “nervous habit” behavior). Chewing on ice or excessively chewing gum.
Many people experience TMJ symptoms, but tend to get them on just one side. They often ask us if it's possible to develop temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) on one side. The answer is: yes, but it's usually not just that side that's affected.
Recurring jaw pain, stiffness, and reduced jaw function are tell-tale signs of a TMJ disorder. But sometimes, symptoms are much more visible. Facial swelling is a possible side effect of TMJ disorders, and it shouldn't be ignored.
Touch – your dentist will use their fingers to apply a bit of pressure to the jaw and TMJ to test for tenderness and pain. Sight – your dentist will look inside your mouth for signs of teeth grinding, clenching and alignment issues. They'll also use X-Rays, if they've found evidence of a TMJ disorder.