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About 28% of Brits suffer from dental pain, including pain in the jaws. Jaw pain can be an unbearable condition that affects your oral health. When left untreated, intense jaw pain can affect your ability to speak and eat. There are many causes of jaw pain, from your teeth’s alignment to your sinuses. Or, it could be a sign of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder. Here are some common treatment options for people struggling with jaw pain.
1. Pain relievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an excellent treatment option for jaw pain, especially if you are looking for immediate relief to help you carry on with your tasks. Drugs like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen work by relieving pain and swelling. While you can purchase most of these drugs over-the-counter at the chemist’s, you should consult with your healthcare provider. Based on your condition, they may prescribe other higher doses of NSAIDs.
If you often clench or grind your teeth, your healthcare provider may also prescribe muscle relaxants to help untighten your jaw muscles. If you have been diagnosed with TMJ, anti-anxiety medication has been known to help relieve stress. Other treatment options like mild doses of antidepressants can also help control your jaw pain. These stronger pain treatment options are only available by prescription.
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2. Corrective dental treatment
Jaw pain can sometimes be linked to misaligned teeth, and you will need to undergo corrective dental treatment. If you have an imbalanced bite, it can cause a lot of pressure on the jaw bone, eventually leading to severe headaches.
These treatment options could be teeth replacement or using crowns or braces to align your teeth properly. Braces are more common options for teeth alignment and are not for kids only. If you struggle with teeth alignment issues or with an uneven jaw bite, you should book an appointment with an orthodontist to find out if it is the cause of your jaw pain.
Teeth straightening with braces can last between 6 to 24 months, depending on your condition. However, your orthodontist should provide an estimate and other information such as how much braces cost and living with braces.
3. Wear night guards or splints
Nightguards and splints are mouthpieces that you can fit over your teeth. The difference between the two mouthpieces is that night guards are typically worn at night, whereas you can wear splints at all times. These mouth guards work to correct your bite by carefully placing your jaw in a more convenient position. If you’re unsure which mouthpiece works for you, you should speak to your orthodontist for further advice. Jaw pain can be debilitating and can interrupt your routine in severe cases. The most important thing is to identify the cause of your jaw pain to help find the best treatment option to correct the pain and make life much easier for you to manage. Check out other treatment options that best suit your jaw pain, and the best person to help is a dentist.