TMJ Joint Pain Treatment in Lafayette IN

The best doctor for treating TMJ disorder is a dentist. While this may seem surprising at first, dentists are highly skilled and trained in the anatomy of the mouth and jaw, and can develop treatments that can correct abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint, otherwise known as the jaw joint.

In some cases, particularly in mild conditions, TMJ disappears on its own with no need for treatment or professional intervention. However, this is not very common. If you find that your daily activities are being interrupted by TMJ pain and symptoms, it is best for you to seek medical help from a professional.

The best way to permanently relieve TMJ pain is to:

Get a Professional Dental Evaluation from a Sleep Specialist — In order to diagnose TMJ disorder, a dentist or TMJ specialist must perform a thorough examination of your teeth, jaw and gums. Your dentist may use a variety of diagnostic tools and technology to accomplish this task, including a 3D dental scan, a dental x-ray or a physical inspection. It is crucial to have an accurate image of your jaw since dentists have to tailor treatments to your specific symptoms and any underlying conditions.

Fix Dental Problems — In many cases, TMJ disorder is caused by an underlying dental problem, such as a misalignment, malocclusion, or disc displacement. Disc displacement, which is one of the most common causes of TMJ, occurs when the teeth or the jaw are misaligned.

Practice TMJ At-Home Care — If you are trying to treat a TMJ flare-up at home, there are some methods you can try for relief. If you are trying to find out how to cure TMJ permanently, doing these simple things may help you:Eat soft food — Since they require less muscle movement, eating soft foods allows your jaw to take a break from constantly chewing.

Try jaw exercises — Your dentist or specialist may provide you with exercises to perform daily; performing these will most likely help the most with curing TMJ disorder.

Apply a cold compress and moist heat — Known as hot/cold therapy, this will help reduce inflammation and pain, and should only be performed in 15-minute segments.

Over-the-counter medications — While this is not a permanent cure, over-the-counter pain-relievers can help to temporarily relieve the pain from TMJ disorder.

TMJ pain can be incredibly frustrating when trying to sleep, so much so, it can prevent you from getting a good night’s rest. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to sleep better with TMJ pain, including the following:

– Get specialized pillows
– Avoid clenching your jaw or chewing gum
– Eat softer foods
– Change your sleep position

The best remedies for pain relief include:

– Use an ice pack
– Try jaw exercises
– Apply moist heat
– Take anti-inflammatories
– Eat softer foods

Do not let TMJ pain disturb your sleep; come to Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders today for relief! Call us today to book an appointment with our TMJ joint pain treatment team, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 4921 SR 26 E, Suite 300, Lafayette, IN 47905. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Lafayette IN, Dayton IN, Shadeland IN, West Lafayette IN, Bar Barry Heights IN, and surrounding areas.