If you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), you know how painful this condition can be. Do you have pain and discomfort due to TMJ? Your first thought may be: can cannabidiol (CBD) help?
Here we will describe the available research and what it has determined about the effectiveness of CBD for TMJ pain.
What is ATM?
The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw, also known as the lower jaw, to the skull.
Located on both sides of the head, just in front of the ears, this joint makes it easier to open and close the jaws for talking and eating. TMJ includes a group of health conditions involving the jaw, but over the years it has been abbreviated as TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or TMD (temporomandibular disorders) in order to avoid confusion between the disorder and the actual articulation.
Symptoms of TMJD
The most common include jaw pain and pain in the surrounding muscles.
Other symptoms may include:
- headache
- rigid jaw muscles
- pain in the neck or face
- limited jaw movement
- Jaw lock
- clicking or popping sound
- Jaw displacement (malocclusion): a difference in how the upper and lower teeth line up
You could experience any of these symptoms on one or both sides of your face.
Causes of TMJ disorders
Most of the causes of TMJ disorders are not clearly known at this time. Trauma to the jaw or joint can sometimes play a role, in addition to these possible factors:
- arthritis
- joint erosion
- structural problems of the jaw that are present at birth
Certain health conditions can also play a role in TMJD, such as:
- orthodontic brackets
- posture that causes an effort in the muscles of the face and neck
- Stress
- diet lacking important nutrients
- lack of sleep
Side note: These factors have not been proven to actually cause TMJD.
TMJ treatment
TMJ disorders can be treated at home in most cases with home remedies or self-care practices.
Here are some things that might ease TMJ symptoms:
- eat bland foods
- avoid chewing gum and hard or sticky foods (candy, jerky, etc.)
- apply ice to reduce swelling
- decrease jaw movements
- less stress
- Use jaw stretching exercises to extend jaw movement
In some serious cases, a doctor may prescribe or suggest:
- Over-the-counter pain medications (ie, ibuprofen)
- medications designed to relax the jaw muscles
- medicines to reduce jaw swelling (corticosteroid medicines)
- bite guards or stabilizing splints to prevent teeth from grinding
- Botox to relax the muscles and nerves of the jaw
- cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help reduce stress
Although corrective dental surgery, joint replacement surgery or arthrocentesis (surgery that removes debris and fluid from the jaw joint) might be recommended by a doctor in severe cases.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is one of more than 120 chemical compounds derived from the cannabis plant. It is undoubtedly the most popular of them all.
Although not as intoxicating as its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is associated with many health benefits because it can alleviate a variety of common conditions.
The three main types of CBD include:
- Full spectrum CBD. These are all natural compounds available from the cannabis plant, meaning it has some THC. Full-spectrum CBD (derived from hemp) typically includes less than 0.3 percent THC. But those THC levels rise when flowers have been extracted into oil.
- Broad spectrum CBD. This includes naturally occurring compounds, with the exception of THC. All THC has been removed, leaving only a small amount. Broad spectrum THC still includes flavonoids and terpenes.
- CBD isolated The purest form of CBD on the market, it is separated from other compounds of the hemp plant.
How CBD works
To really understand how CBD works, you need to consider the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is a cell signaling system first discovered by researchers in the 1990s who were studying THC.
This system is in the body whether or not you use cannabis. It has three main components: endocannabinoids, enzymes and receptors.
Researchers still don’t know all the intricacies of the ECS. However, it regulates many body functions and processes such as:
- to sleep
- Mood
- he eats
- reproduction and fertility
- memory
Researchers still don’t know exactly how CBD will interact with the ECS. But they know that it does not bind to CB1 and CB2 (the two main endocannabinoid receptors) in the same way that THC does.
Some think that CBD works by preventing the breakdown of endocannabinoids, which provides a better effect. Others think that CBD binds to a receptor that has yet to be discovered.
Research is ongoing, but so far it suggests that CBD helps with pain, nausea and more.
What is the follow-on effect?
CBD and THC, the most well-known cannabis compounds, have one important difference: THC gives you that “high” feeling, but CBD doesn’t.
When they work together, they create the entourage effect.
This is a theory that says that when cannabis compounds are taken together, they can provide stronger effects than when taken alone.
CBD can help with TMJ
Research on CBD is still ongoing, and studies conducted on the effectiveness of CBD for TMJ pain are very limited.
A 2019 study revealed that those experiencing TMD could see improvement after using CBD products. Additionally, a clinical trial is currently underway that will determine whether CBD, when taken orally, provides pain relief and better jaw function for people with TMJ disorders.
Specific components of cannabis, including CBD, have been found to have analgesic effects.
Take for example this 2018 review, which equated CBD with reducing chronic pain.
It includes studies that were conducted between 1975 and 2018 to explore many types of pain, including:
- fibromyalgia
- cancer pain
- neuropathic pain
The researchers found that CBD was helpful when it came to managing pain and did not cause any negative side effects.
CBD: Is It Safe to Use for TMJ?
The World Health Organization believes that CBD is safe. However, there are some side effects, such as:
- fatigue
- change in appetite
- diarrhea
- weight change
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says you shouldn’t buy CBD from companies that market CBD products as a way to treat disease. These companies have received warning letters.
Currently, only one drug approved by the FDA contains CBD and it is Epidiolex. It was designed to treat rare forms of epilepsy. Over-the-counter CBD products are not yet FDA approved.
Always talk to your doctor before trying any CBD product, especially if you are taking other medications. CBD can interact with certain medications.
Finding a quality CBD product
You’ll find CBD products everywhere these days, but be careful and read the labels before you buy. You never know if the product you want is high quality, as the FDA has yet to approve any over-the-counter CBD products.
Seek transparency/buy direct
On their websites, CBD companies need to be clear and upfront about how their products are made and where the hemp comes from. This information should come directly from the company, so don’t buy from online marketplaces such as Amazon. Amazon does not allow the sale of CBD products, so any listings you see are likely fake.
Check the reputation
When you see a brand you like, do a search to determine if the company has received warning letters from the FDA or has pending lawsuits. Be sure to check online reviews as well. Just remember that these branded websites are probably only posting their positive reviews.
Check the ingredients
Review the product’s listed ingredients. You might be allergic to something, so read it carefully. They might also add ingredients that might help with your specific condition.
Look for third-party lab testing
Make sure the product you are interested in has been properly tested. The safest CBD products come with up-to-date Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from reputable third-party laboratories.
The COA is a good resource to test because it shows you how much CBD and THC each product contains. Make sure these amounts match what the company claims. The COA will also confirm whether the product has been tested for contaminants such as heavy metals, mold and pesticides.
If you’re using CBD for TMJ, go with the oil form instead of topicals or gummies. CBD oil, when placed under the tongue, gives it faster effects. Read about some of the best CBD oils here.
In conclusion
Research on CBD is still ongoing, but everything looks promising. CBD can relieve pain, but research on CBD for TMJ specifically is limited.
Talk to your doctor before trying CBD, as it could interact with certain medications.
If you want to try CBD for TMJ pain, start with oil instead of gummies or topicals.
Buy only from trusted CBD companies with positive reputations and transparency about how their products are made.
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