Have you ever experienced pain in your jaw that limited or prevented your ability to eat and speak properly? Perhaps you hear clicking or popping sounds? While these symptoms can sometimes be temporary, they could also be a sign of a more serious problem. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates that around 10 million Americans suffer from painful jaw conditions known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Fortunately, a new dental pain treatment for TMJ disorder is now available.

What Is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?

TMJ pain relief
At the first sign of a TMJ disorder, it’s best to get immediate advice on pain management.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small and delicate joint that connect your lower jaw to your skull. There are two joints for each connection. They slide and rotate in front of each ear, and connect to the mandible (the lower jaw) and the temporal bone (the side and base of the skull).

The temporomandibular joint allows the mandible to move up and down, side to side, and forward and back. When the mandible and the joints are aligned, actions such as chewing, talking and swallowing, happen almost effortlessly. When these structures are neither aligned nor synchronized in movement, temporomandibular disorder (TMD) occurs.

TMJ disorders are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NICDR) has classified temporomandibular joint dysfunction under three distinct categories:

  • Myofascial pain centers on the muscles that control jaw movement.
  • Internal derangement of the joint means misalignment in some parts of the jaw, including a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injured condyle (a protuberance in a bone that helps connect it to another).
  • Degenerative disorders in the joints or bones that can affect the TMJ, such as arthritis.

A person may have one or more of these conditions at the same time, and TMD appears to be more common in women than men, according to the NICDR.

Common Causes and Symptoms of TMD

CBD treatment for TMJ
Discuss your TMD symptoms with your dentist who can recommend treatments that could help restore your normal jaw function and manage discomfort.

A recent study by the NICDR identified clinical, psychological, sensory, genetic, and nervous system factors that may put a person at higher risk of developing chronic TMJ.

Underlying conditions that may also lead to TMJ disorder include:

  • Dental problems such as malocclusions, overbites, and underbites. Substandard orthodontic work can also cause misaligned jaws.
  • Existing health issues such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint. Other conditions such as fibromyalgia, gout, or infections can affect the TMJ as well.
  • Overextending the jaw with activities such as habitually chewing gum, biting hard objects, or yawning too much can damage the joints, too.
  • Bruxism, the habit of grinding or clenching teeth, is a condition brought about by an uneven alignment between the upper and lower teeth and the jaw.
  • Trauma to the jaw, the head, or the neck may cause TMJ disorder.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea, or when airways get blocked while sleeping, can be a symptom of a chronic condition. Jaw popping is a common side effect of obstructive sleep apnea.

The following are the most common signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder as listed by Johns Hopkins Medicine:

  • Jaw discomfort or soreness (often most prevalent in the morning or late afternoon)
  • Headaches
  • Pain spreading behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, neck, and/or back
  • Earaches or ringing in the ears (not caused by an infection of the inner ear canal)
  • Clicking or popping of the jaw
  • Locking of the jaw
  • Limited mouth motions
  • Clenching or grinding of the teeth
  • Dizziness
  • Sensitivity of the teeth without the presence of an oral health disease
  • Numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers
  • A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together

If you are experiencing any of the conditions listed above, it’s recommended you visit your dentist for a professional diagnosis.

CBD Shows Effective, Targeted Relief for TMJ Disorder Discomfort or Dental Pain

CBD Dental Pain Treatment
CBD prepared as a topical cream is fast gaining acceptance as a natural and effective way to treat dental discomfort.

Dentists usually recommend oral analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, or celecoxib to manage dental-related pain. If the NSAIDs prove ineffective, they usually prescribe stronger medication such as topical corticosteroids or opioid analgesics.

Dentists and patients now have the option of a new, more natural alternative: CBD in the form of a patient-friendly Transdermal Relief Cream (TRC) to treat TMJ disorder and other facial discomforts. Containing 2.5% CBD, the higher concentration renders it prescription strength, and the transdermal application delivers rapid relief through faster absorption into the skin to ease the discomfort as compared to over-the-counter CBD product formulation and forms.

A very important distinction to note upfront is that unlike THC (the other active ingredient found in the cannabis plant), CBD does not contain any psychoactive substances that produce the “high” from cannabis.

“Adding in the use of CBD to my dental practice has been a complete game-changer. As an adjunct or sometimes stand-alone treatment, it offers tremendous benefits with no unwanted side effects. It is one of the missing links to overall patient care.”
-- Kathleen Carson, DDS.

Recent research shows that transdermal CBD has the potency to combat pain and reduce inflammation through pro-neurogenic effects and by diminishing pro-inflammatory cytokines (small secreted proteins released by cells). Researchers have noted that reducing joint inflammation is an important reason to use medical grade, dentist-approved CBD for TMJ discomfort.

Researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, have discovered that patients with TMJ disorders reported less muscle tension and reduced discomfort after applying topically-prepared CBD to the affected areas. Patients that applied this CBD dental pain treatment reported a 70% reduction in jaw discomfort. In contrast, a control group that used a placebo reported only 10% pain reduction.

Dental Patients and Dentists Feel the Effects

By synthesizing the pain-relieving properties of cannabinoids into a patient-friendly prescription strength Transdermal Relief Cream (TRC), dentists now have a therapeutic alternative to oral analgesics that provides a much faster delivery system to relieve dental discomfort and lasts longer.

Dentists have seen proven results!

Patients who tried this unique CBD dental treatment reported reduced discomfort within five to ten minutes of application, with relief lasting between four to five hours for a single application. Those with inflamed features also reported reduced swelling, especially in the joint area.

Dentists at the TRC CBD trials also applied the cream to their hands to see if it would relieve them of the discomfort brought on by long working hours. They, too, noted the pain-relieving properties of CBD.

Patients further reported relief from a host of other related ailments, including wearing a night guard, soreness from wearing retainers or braces, and discomfort caused by dental operation. In fact, CBD in extract form is already used by several dental offices to help reduce anxieties in patients before a procedure.

Using CBD as a Dental Pain Treatment for TMJ Disorders

Cannabidiols is fast shedding any negative connotations and exhibiting its enormous promise as an alternative and holistic treatment option to oral analgesics, opioids, and steroids.

TRC is the first CBD treatment formulated for the dental industry, tested by dentists.

Learn more about the benefits of TRC and how it offers a holistic and more effective treatment for TMD and other dental discomfort. Visit Sterngold Dental for more information.