Chronic TMJ Pain? Try Medical Marijuana

21 February 2020
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Share  

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain can be really difficult to live with. It affects your ability to chew and enjoy certain foods. It may lead to headaches, trouble sleeping, and depression. Dentists can employ tactics like adjusting your bite and prescribing mouth guards to manage chronic TMJ pain, but these treatments do not always help. If you've been working with your dentist for some time and are still experiencing TMJ pain, you might want to look into medical marijuana as a management option.

Why does medical marijuana work for TMJ pain?

There are a couple of reasons why medical marijuana makes an ideal treatment for TMJ pain. First, the THC and CBD in medical marijuana are natural pain relievers. They will directly help alleviate the pain you're experiencing in your jaw. Second, the CBD in medical marijuana is good at reducing inflammation. In many cases, the pain associated with TMJ disorders is due, at least in part, to inflammation. Alleviating the inflammation will reduce the pain.

Medical marijuana also helps you to relax. Since many cases of TMJ are related to stress, which may cause you to clench your jaw or grind your teeth in your sleep, promoting relaxation can help ease pain.

How do you obtain medical marijuana?

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, you need to get a doctor to prescribe the medication to you. In some cases, your dentist may be willing to write you a prescription, since you are using the marijuana to manage what many consider to be a dental ailment. Otherwise, they can refer you to doctor.

What is the best form of marijuana to use?

In general, you want to stay away from smoking marijuana. Inhaling smoke of any sort is not very good for your lungs. You can instead vape the substance; this involves inhaling just the THC and CBD-rich vapor from the plant, and it is much easier on your lungs. You can also try edibles. Stay away from gummies, as they may be tough for you to chew considering your TMJ pain. Some THC and CHD-infused chocolates, lozenges, or suckers might work really well. Feel free to experiment with a couple of different products to see what works for you.

TMJ pain can really be a burden, but medical marijuana is a viable means of managing the discomfort. For more information, reach out to companies like WCMI Ortho.