The criteria for complete cure and management of temporomandibular joint disorders as described by oral medicine specialists

I also had temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and began to experience pain when opening my mouth and clicking sounds in my jaw, so I went to the oral medicine department for treatment.

The first thing I heard while receiving treatment was, “Complete cure in temporomandibular joint disease does not mean returning to the previous state.”

Today is that time A summary of the explanation I heard from the oral medicine department by, Criteria for complete cure of temporomandibular joint disorder I would like to share the most important points in management.

 

 

✔ A complete cure for temporomandibular joint disease as defined by a specialist

• No pain when chewing

• No pain when opening the mouth

• A state in which jaw function can be used naturally within the normal range

That is, if you have reached a state where you can live your daily life without pain or functional limitations,
They see it as a 'complete cure'..!

 

Temporomandibular joint disease is characterized by 'sound, pain, and limited mouth opening'. Which of the three symptoms remains? The management direction will vary depending on it.

 

 

Temporomandibular joint disease
👉 Check the pain repeatedly or
👉 The act of forcing oneself to endure
It often makes the symptoms last longer.

So, what is needed before treatment is to “maintain a state that does not stimulate the jaw.”

 

Avoid these behaviors that worsen temporomandibular joint pain.

❌ 1. Behavior that continuously checks for pain

• Repeatedly moving around while asking, “Does it still hurt?”

• The act of enduring and trying, saying, “Let’s give it a try,” even though it hurts

➡ It causes the pain to continue to be reproduced.

❌ 2. Actions that deliberately cause jaw sounds

• The sound coming from the jaw is caused by the disc being pushed forward.

• Repeating this movement can cause the sound to become louder and worsen to the point where the mouth cannot be opened.

❌ 3. Unconscious lifestyle habits

The following actions require special attention:

• The habit of clenching one's teeth when concentrating

• A posture where one rests one's chin on one's hand or lowers one's head

• Eating chewy or hard foods

💡 The most comfortable jaw position is when the molars are about 2-3mm apart, like when pronouncing the letter 'M'.
→ It is described as the position in which the jaw muscles are most relaxed.

 

The key to managing your temporomandibular joint is relaxation.

🧠 1. Mental health and sleep

Mental health and sleep are very important in managing temporomandibular joint disease.

• Light aerobic exercise

• Mindfulness, meditation

• Get enough sleep

➡ It is a process of restoring the energy that the body can recover itself.

 

♨ The best physical therapy you can do at home, hot compress

 

Onjimjil is

• Helps blood circulation

• Relaxing the muscles

• Helps eliminate inflammatory byproducts.

✔ Points

• Covers not only the cheeks but also the temporomandibular joint and temporalis muscle

 

To sum up

📦 Summary of Key Points for 'Curing' Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

• Complete recovery is not about 'going back to the way things were', but rather about restoring function without pain.

• Avoid pain, excessive use, and noise-causing activities.

• Teeth clenching, jaw clenching, and avoiding hard foods

• Mental care + sufficient sleep + hot compress are the basic management axes.

👉 He emphasized that when it comes to temporomandibular joint disease, it is much more important to ‘reduce irritation’ than to ‘try to fix it quickly.’

 

For the temporomandibular joint, giving it a good rest is management in itself.
I would like you to slowly check what kind of stimulation is being repeated on your jaw right now.