It is important to find the best mouth guard for TMJ and your unique situation as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your teeth.
Once you have a mouth guard for teeth grinding on order you can focus on using the techniques below to reduce the pain and swelling associated with TMD and for immediate TMJ headache relief.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull and acts like a sliding hinge. TMJ disorders or TMD can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the facial muscles that control jaw movement.
1. Pro Teeth Custom Dental Guard
If you are looking for a Professional style TMJ night guard identical to the ones prescribed by the dentist, only a quarter of the cost, look no further than the Pro Teeth Guard.
You can save hundreds of dollars by going straight to the source, ProTeethGuard is a professional dental laboratory used by dentists to create mouthguards for TMJ
Uses a softer silicone material on the inside and hard plastic/epoxy on the outside, which makes for a more comfortable fit.
This is a great mouth guard for teeth grinding if you have had significant dental expenses, and cheap insurance for more dental work in the future!
2. J&S Dental Lab Custom Night Guard
Everything about this TMJ guard is customizable, including the thickness and the material used. Whether you want a soft or hard acrylic guard, or a thinner or thicker guard, you can customize it just for you!
They offer many different hardness and thickness parameters, you can choose when you are filling out the informational packet that comes with your molding kit.
The longevity of your TMJ bite guard depends on grinding severity, grinding/clenching behavior and how well it is taken care of.
3. Sleep Right Dura-Comfort
The most durable and bulky of the SleepRight Disposable Dental Guards, this is one of the best over the counter mouth guard for TMJ. It offers protection from the most severe night time grinding and clenching.
While offering the most protection for your teeth, this also means that the pads might be considered “too hard and bulky” for some.
The bite pads have four positions, making it easy to customize the fit for all sizes. They adjust forward for a smaller fit and backward for a larger fit, as well as swivel to match the angle of all bites.
4. Plackers Grind No More Disposable Dental Guard
Coined as the first disposable night guard, they are designed in a 10 or 14 pack to be thrown away after 3 days.
They are definitely a comfortable, cost effective short term solution that provide protection for your teeth in a convenient and hygienic way.
Although recommended for 3 days of use reviewers say they can get up to a week comfortably using a single guard using propers cleaning techniques and a plastic case. That means this box could last you longer than as 3 months, a bargain if you are not ready to commit to a more expensive molded or custom dental appliance. (Usually ranging from $150-600)
5. Den-Tek Ready Fit Disposable Mouth Guard
The DenTek Ready-Fit Disposable Mouth Guard for grinding teeth is a brand new option that comes in a pack of 16 for $19.99, rivaling Plackers for the most hygienic, comfortable and convenient disposable mouth guard. Use when traveling or in a pinch.
They are very slim and comfortable, you might not even realize you are wearing it.
- Individually packaged & ready to wear
- Daily hygiene & comfort
- Protection for nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism)
- No boiling, molding, or cutting required
- Slim design; protects while you sleep
- Fits on lower or upper teeth
TMJ Symptoms may Include
- Pain or tenderness around your jaw
- Aching pain in and around your ear
- Difficulty and discomfort while chewing
- Facial pain and aching
- The joint may lock, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
- TMJ can also cause a clicking sound when you open your mouth all the way or chew
Medical Treatments
People with jaw pain will benefit from wearing a soft or firm mouth guard for teeth grinding, this helps the wear and tear of your teeth while you grind at night as well as providing a cushion for your jaw muscles and might help align your muscles and therefore reduce the amount of stress put upon them.
Physical therapy treatments might include ultrasound, heat and ice and TMJ exercises to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles.
Counseling can help you understand the stress and factors that may aggravate your pain, so you can learn to deal with them on an emotional level. Examples include grinding for clenching your teeth, leaning on your chin or biting your fingernails.
- Pain relievers: If over-the-counter pain medications aren’t enough to relieve TMJ Headache pain, your doctor or dentist may prescribe stronger pain relievers.
- Tricyclic antidepressants: These medications, such as amitriptyline, used to be used mostly for depression, but now are also used for pain relief.
- Muscle relaxants: These types of drugs are sometimes used for a few days or weeks to help relieve pain caused by TMJ disorders.
- Sedatives: If nighttime teeth clenching is aggravating your pain, your doctor might prescribe a sedative.
TMJ Exercises and Home Remedies
There are also series of TMJ exercises and stretches and massage that you can perform to eliminate the pain almost immediately.
TMJ exercises are a great way to deal with Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome at home, In the lists and video you will find exercises that you can try in the convenience of your own home to find relief your TMJ symptoms.
Through a combination of these tips and exercises, it is possible to completely reverse the symptoms of TMJ, and if take this seriously and make it a habit you can ensure that your signs and symptoms don’t relapse.
Exercise 1
Place one hand underneath your jaw – you can rest your face on your palms or create a fist. Keeping the pressure steady, try opening your mouth jaw. Let there be a little pressure exerted while you open your mouth against your hand. Hold like this for 10-seconds. Close your jaw again when it begins to pop. Rest for 10 seconds then repeat. Repeat a few times a day.
Exercise 2
Another among the effective TMJ exercises would be to open the mouth and place two fingers on your lower teeth. Press down the on your bottom jaw, stretching your muscles. Make sure you do this slowly and thoroughly, closing your mouth and then pushing your jaw open again carefully. Repeat ten times.
TMJ exercises ought to be practiced at least once a day for several days in a row.
The discomfort felt at first will eventually dissipate and when practiced regularly and properly these exercises will help bring the jaw into proper alignment.
Always ease into each one of the TMJ exercises, stopping when the discomfort becomes too much.
Try these tips and tricks to reduce and even eliminate TMJ pain:
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