What should I do about temporomandibular joint arthritis?
Nov 10, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lei
Introduction
In general, temporomandibular arthritis may be caused by poor chewing habits, excessive mental stress, temporomandibular synovitis, temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome, or temporomandibular osteoarthritis. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through conservative management, medication, and other treatments. In daily life, avoid keeping the mouth open for prolonged periods while speaking or laughing.
Under normal circumstances, temporomandibular joint arthritis may be caused by poor chewing habits, excessive mental stress, temporomandibular joint synovitis, temporomandibular joint disorders, or temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through general treatments, medications, and other methods. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Poor chewing habits: Long-term unilateral chewing or frequent biting of hard objects can lead to uneven stress on the temporomandibular joint, causing inflammation and pain. Adjust chewing habits by using both sides of the mouth alternately, avoid biting hard items such as nuts or bones, choose soft, easy-to-chew foods, and reduce strain on the joint.
2. Excessive mental stress: Prolonged anxiety and tension can cause the masticatory muscles to remain tense, pulling on the temporomandibular joint and triggering inflammation. Alleviate stress through exercise, meditation, or similar methods, maintain emotional stability, avoid teeth clenching or grinding during periods of high tension, and apply warm compresses when necessary to relax the chewing muscles.
3. Temporomandibular joint synovitis: The synovial membrane of the joint becomes irritated, leading to an aseptic inflammatory response characterized by joint swelling, pain, and limited mouth opening. Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as celecoxib capsules, diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules to reduce inflammation, and avoid wide mouth-opening movements.
4. Temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome: Abnormal joint structure or muscle dysfunction leads to impaired joint movement, accompanied by pain and clicking sounds. Under medical guidance, patients may use medications such as etoricoxib tablets, meloxicam tablets, or loxoprofen sodium dispersible tablets to relieve pain, combined with joint massage and physical therapy to improve joint function.
5. Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: Degeneration of articular cartilage and bone spurs result in significant pain during joint movement, severely affecting eating. Follow a doctor’s instructions to take medications such as glucosamine hydrochloride capsules, chondroitin sulfate sodium tablets, or mecobalamin tablets to nourish the joint cartilage.
In daily life, avoid prolonged mouth opening while speaking or laughing, and keep the face warm in cold weather. Chew food slowly and gently during meals to reduce joint strain. Proper care can help minimize flare-ups of inflammation and maintain the health of the temporomandibular joint.
