How to treat temporomandibular arthritis

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), commonly referred to as jaw arthritis, is primarily managed through conservative treatments such as medication, physical therapy, occlusal adjustment, behavioral interventions, and rehabilitation exercises. Surgical intervention may be considered if symptoms are severe or conservative treatments fail. Individuals experiencing persistent pain, difficulty opening the mouth, or similar symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.

1. Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are primarily used to relieve pain and inflammation. Muscle relaxants may be added if muscle spasms are prominent. These medications should be taken under medical supervision to avoid adverse effects from self-medication.

2. Physical therapy: Commonly includes heat or cold compresses, ultrasound, and infrared radiation to improve local blood circulation, relax tense muscles, and reduce inflammation and edema in tissues surrounding the joint.

3. Occlusal adjustment: Involves using occlusal splints or adjusting dental咬合 relationships to reduce stress on the joint, alleviate chewing pain, and prevent abnormal occlusion from worsening joint damage.

4. Behavioral intervention: Correcting不良 chewing habits, avoiding long-term unilateral chewing or biting hard objects, controlling mouth opening range to minimize excessive joint movement, and managing mental stress to prevent symptom flare-ups caused by anxiety.

5. Rehabilitation training: Under professional guidance, perform facial muscle stretching and joint mobility exercises to strengthen muscle power and coordination, improve joint function, and reduce symptom recurrence.

In daily life, maintain a relaxed jaw posture, avoid teeth clenching or nocturnal bruxism, consume soft, easily chewable foods, maintain regular sleep patterns, avoid excessive fatigue, and perform gentle facial massage regularly to promote muscle relaxation and support recovery of joint function.