What Medicine Is Best For Jaw Pain?

For immediate relief – Apply moist heat or ice packs: Place ice in a plastic bag, wrap it in a thin cloth, and apply it to your face for 10 minutes. Then take it off for 10 minutes before reapplying it. Another option is to run warm water over a washcloth, then apply it to your jaw area.

  • The moist heat can relax overactive jaw muscles and relieve pain.
  • You may have to re-wet the washcloth several times to maintain the heat.
  • You can also purchase heat or ice packs at a pharmacy or online.
  • However, they should be covered in cloth at all times, or they could burn your skin.
  • If it feels too hot or too cold, remove it.

Keep reading: How to make a cold compress » Over-the-counter pain relievers : Medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen may help to reduce discomfort. Massage the affected joint: Using your index and middle finger, press the sore areas of your jaw, such as the area right before your ear where your jaw joints meet.

Contents

What is the best painkiller for jaw pain?

In-depth Articles on Other TMJ Disorders Treatments –

  • At-home treatments to help ease TMJ disorder symptoms
  • Surgery for TMJ disorders

Your doctor or dentist will most likely have you try an OTC medication before prescribing you a medication. If OTC medications are not strong enough to relieve jaw pain and other TMJ disorders, at that point your doctor will prescribe a stronger medication to ease your symptoms.

Over-the-Counter Medications for TMJ Disorders Acetaminophen is used to help temporarily reduce jaw pain but it doesn’t address inflammation. Tylenol is a popular brand of acetaminophen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help temporarily control both jaw pain and inflammation in the TMJ. An example of an NSAID is ibuprofen (eg, Advil).

Prescription Medications for TMJ Disorders Muscle relaxants are sometimes used to help relieve jaw pain and discomfort due to a TMJ disorder. They work by relaxing the muscles in your jaw and face, and they help decrease muscle spasms. Because muscle relaxants are strong medications, you’ll most likely only use them for a few days or a few weeks at a time.

  1. An example of a muscle relaxant used for TMJ disorders is diazepam (eg, Valium).
  2. Tricyclic anti-depressants can help relieve pain caused by a TMJ disorder.
  3. You don’t have to have a history of depression to take an anti-depressant.
  4. These medications work by influencing how your body interprets pain.
  5. An example of a tricyclic anti-depressant used to treat TMJ disorders is amitriptyline (eg, Elavil).
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Corticosteroids may be necessary if your jaw pain and inflammation are significant. However, they’re rarely used to treat TMJ disorders. If you do need them, your doctor will inject the corticosteroid into the joint, which will help provide temporary relief.

  1. Triamcinolone (eg, Kenalog) is an example of a corticosteroid used to treat TMJ disorders.
  2. Botulinum toxin—aka Botox— is sometimes used to help relieve TMJ disorder-related pain.
  3. Although some experts think a small dose of Botox into the jaw muscles used for chewing may help relieve TMJ symptoms, Botox has not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for TMJ disorders.

Currently, studies are looking at how Botox impacts muscles and nerves in the jaw.¹ Which Medications for TMJ Disorders Should You Take? The medications you take to help control jaw pain and other TMJ symptoms depend on the severity of your symptoms.

TMJ disorders. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Web site. http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/TMJ/TMJDisorders.htm. Updated March 2010. Accessed November 18, 2011.

Sources

  • TMJ disorders. MedlinePlus Web site. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001227.htm. Updated November 7, 2011. Accessed November 18, 2011.
  • TMJ disorders treatments and drugs. Mayo Clinic Web site. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tmj-disorders/DS00355/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs. Updated June 25, 2010. Accessed November 18, 2011.

Notes: This article was originally published January 12, 2012 and most recently updated November 19, 2015, Associate Medical Writer Julie works with authors to ensure that the content you read on Practical Pain Management is thoroughly researched and easy to understand for patients. With a medical copy editing background, she has an eye for spelling, style, and grammar. And as a person living with chronic back pain, Julie is genuinely interested in learning about how to live well with back pain.

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Can Painkillers help jaw pain?

For many people, short-term use of over-the-counter pain medications or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may provide temporary relief from jaw and muscle discomfort. If pain persists, your medical provider can prescribe stronger pain or anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or antidepressants that can help ease pain and other symptoms.

  1. Many medications originally approved by the FDA for other conditions (e.g.
  2. Depression, seizures) also work on the same nerves causing pain and can help ease your pain.
  3. It’s important to note, there are no drugs specifically labeled by FDA for temporomandibular disorders.
  4. Different subgroups of people with TMJ disorders respond differently to treatment.

Just because another person with a TMJ disorder experienced a positive or negative effect with a particular medication does not mean that you will have the same result. For now, we don’t have good evidence to say who will or will not positively respond to a certain medication – or who will experience intolerable side effects.

Why is my jaw so pain?

Jaw pain, which sometimes radiates to other areas of the face, is a common concern. It can develop due to sinus infections, toothaches, issues with the blood vessels or nerves, or other conditions. Most types of jaw pain result from temporomandibular joint disorder.

How long until jaw pain goes away?

How long does TMD last? – It depends on the severity of the underlying condition. TMJ symptoms last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. Some TMJ disorders can last months or years This text opens a new tab to the WebMD website, such as those caused by teeth grinding and arthritis. But: Treatment and proper care may relieve you of your symptoms.

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Can jaw pain heal itself?

For most people, pain in the area of the jaw joint or muscles does not signal a serious problem. Generally, discomfort from these conditions is occasional and temporary, often occurring in cycles. The pain eventually goes away with little or no treatment.

Do you go to dentist or doctor for jaw pain?

Our Blog What Medicine Is Best For Jaw Pain Posted under: Smile Team Notes Posted on: October 2, 2017 What Medicine Is Best For Jaw Pain Millions of Americans wake up every morning with jaw pain. If you notice tenderness in your jaw, pain when you bite or endure frequent headaches, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Although some causes of jaw pain are temporary and go away on their own, you may be experiencing the first symptoms of a serious dental problem.

Where is my jaw pain coming from?

Jaw pain can be caused from tension in your jaw or from chronic conditions like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. But conditions that affect different parts of the face like the sinuses, ears, and teeth, can also cause jaw pain.

What is it called when your jaw hurts?

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders are conditions affecting the jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. It can be caused by trauma, an improper bite, arthritis or wear and tear.

What causes jaw pain on one side?

Why Does My Jaw Hurt on One Side? What Medicine Is Best For Jaw Pain There are several potential causes of jaw pain occurring on one side of the mouth. The pain may be due to nerve problems, an injury or blood vessel issues. Sometimes, it’s the result of a dental problem, such as an abscessed tooth or cavity. Generally, one-sided jaw pain isn’t serious.