TMJ Treatment: From Home Remedies to Professional Care

If you’re dealing with jaw pain, clicking sounds when you chew, or frequent headaches, you might have TMJ disorder. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull, and when it’s not working right, it can cause discomfort. While some cases improve with simple home remedies, others require professional care.

At Drs of Smiles in Mesa, Arizona, Dr. Glenn LeSueur applies advanced neuromuscular dentistry techniques to diagnose and treat TMJ disorders. With training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, he’ll find the right solution to help you move past jaw pain.

Home Remedies for TMJ Relief

For mild TMJ discomfort, small habits you do at home can start making a big difference:

• Relax your jaw: Stress can make symptoms worse, so practice relaxation techniques or gentle jaw stretches and exercises.
• Apply heat or cold: A warm compress relaxes muscles, while ice can reduce swelling.
• Stick to soft foods: Avoid chewing gum and crunchy foods that overwork your jaw.
• Try OTC medications: Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can ease pain and reduce inflammation.
• Maintain good posture: Slouching can add strain to your jaw muscles.

If these don’t help or your symptoms get worse, it’s time to explore professional treatment.

Professional TMJ Treatment Options

At Drs of Smiles, we offer dental care for TMJ that targets the root cause of the issue, such as:

• Custom Oral Appliances: Nightguards or splints help prevent clenching and grinding. These are often the first step in treatment, especially for TMJ symptoms caused by nighttime grinding or jaw tension. 
• Neuromuscular Dentistry: Using TENS therapy and K-7 technology, we assess and adjust jaw alignment. This approach is used when TMJ pain stems from muscle imbalance or a misaligned bite. 
• Dental Adjustments: Orthodontics, crowns, or reshaping teeth can correct a misaligned bite. These treatments may be necessary if an uneven bite is contributing to TMJ symptoms.

Surgery is rarely needed, but sometimes, it is the best option for severe cases. This is considered a last resort when other treatments have failed, and the jaw joint itself has structural damage that requires intervention. We can refer you to a specialist in this scenario.

Find TMJ Relief in Mesa, AZ

Living with TMJ pain can be frustrating, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Dr. LeSueur and the team at Drs of Smiles offer expert TMJ treatment options in Mesa, AZ. Call 480-834-6991 to schedule an appointment and start feeling better.