TMJ Solutions, From Mouth Tape and Fillers to Bite Correction

Dealing with jaw pain? TMJ could be the issue. The temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw to your skull, is a common site of major pain. From home solutions like mouth taping and wearing a guard to pain-relief options and surgical solutions, we’re exploring everything you can do for TMJ, ahead.

Featured Experts

• Jason Kasarsky, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in New York
• Nathan Hoffman, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in Chicago
• Irene Grafman, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in New York
• Jonathan Van Dyke, DMD is a board-certified dentist in Marco Island, FL

Why Is TMJ an Issue?

Dysfunction in your TMJ joint can lead to a lot of oral health issues, including chronic pain, wear and tear, and even limited chewing function.

New York cosmetic dentist Jason Kasarsky, DDS, explains that most people start with home remedies when dealing with TMJ. “TMJ causes bruxism, which includes clenching and grinding of teeth,” he explains. “Excessive gum chewing, arthritis and inflammation of the muscles can stress the TMJ joint.”

Options to Treat the Pain

Mouth Taping

In terms of at-home remedies, many corners of the internet swear by mouth taping.

According to Chicago cosmetic dentist Nathan Hoffman, DDS, “Mouth taping involves sealing the lips during sleep with adhesive tape. Advocates claim it promotes nasal breathing, maintains mouth moisture, enhances oral hygiene and reduces sleep-related issues like snoring and sleep apnea. It’s crucial for individuals to consult a healthcare professional to evaluate their suitability before attempting this method independently.”

Patients may find pain relief under the guidance of a healthcare professional using this method.

Neuromodulators and Dermal Fillers

Right now, practitioners use Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau for a wide variety of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments—including alleviating TMJ disorder.

“Botox injections into masseter muscle can do wonders for those with severe discomfort,” says Dr. Kasarsky. “Locating the masseter muscle trigger points is the key to success. Botox can be used to turn off or paralyze excess muscle activity with fabulous results. I don’t actually recommend fillers for this type of treatment.”

“Dermal fillers and neurotoxins like Botox are certainly options for treating the pain TMJ causes,” says New York cosmetic dentist Irene Grafman, DDS. “But they are all ultimately short-term solutions.”

If filler is suggested, it will likely be in supplement to a neuromodulator. “A dermal filler strategically injected into the joint area can provide cushioning to enhance pain relief and improve TMJ functioning,” explains Marco Island, FL dentist Jonathan Van Dyke, DMD.

Fixing the Bite

According to Dr. Grafman, patients will be stuck just treating the pain unless they seek a solution for their bite. That can include jaw surgery.

“TMJ pain is caused by your jaw being in the wrong position,” she explains. “The lower jaw is not sitting comfortably, and that activates the muscles on the side of the face, in the cheek and by the ear. That’s where you get that clicking, grinding and pain.”

TMJ is a degenerative joint disease. That means that the sooner you seek a long-term solution, the better.

“The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to reverse,” Dr. Grafman says. “At the end of the day, we have to correct the bite to prevent further degeneration. If bite correction can’t be achieved through traditional means and pain is still an issue, the patient may be a candidate for jaw surgery to manually realign the bite.”