CBD Oil Benefits For TMJ Pain

By now, you may have heard about CBD. If you have not, then keep reading. When advertisers hype something so much, we are left with the feeling that the hyperbole sounds too good to be true. That is the case in just about every incidence. CBD oil seems to be an exception.

So what is it? CBD stands for cannabidiol. The root of the word “Cannabi” comes from cannabis, or hemp.  Marijuana is a variety of hemp that contains the ingredient THC that causes people to feel “high” , but CBD does not cause any of the effects of THC. CBD is an oil that has been found to have numerous beneficial effects such as:  pain relief, anxiety , psychosis and depression relief, relief of cancer-related symptoms,  acne reduction, relief from the symptoms of MS and epilepsy,  and lowering blood pressure. Quite impressive I would say.  It can be ingested or used topically.

It was discovered not long ago that we possess an endocannabinoid system within our bodies. What that means is that we make our own variation of CBD and have receptors in our brains and nerve cells. This is why CBD works so well; we are taking advantage of our own natural pain relief system! I would like to limit my discussion today to its topical pain-relieving properties because that is how I primarily use it in my practice.

A very common issue with many of my patients is pain associated with the temporomandibular joint, jaw and neck muscles. The main reason my patients have this problem is clenching and grinding. Other reasons can include habitual gum chewing, misaligned teeth or trauma.  TMJ issues can be quite a serious problem and any patient experiencing issues should see their dentist right away. I recommend topical CBD ointment for my patients that are experiencing moderate to severe pain in the region of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) along with the associated jaw and neck muscles. I mainly use it for acute pain. Chronic TMJ issues generally don’t stay that way with proper treatment. Find out what to do with TMJ issues in my post here.

I use an excellent product by CBD Clinic. There are several active ingredients in their preparations. First, the base of their ointments and creams are made with natural organic beeswax, jojoba seed oil, cottonseed oil, and shea butte that are readily absorbed by human skin. Second, is of course the actual CBD oil.  Lastly, menthol, camphor, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Clove, Peppermint essential oils are added. They have been used individually and in combinations for centuries for their healing properties. They are typically aromatic and give the product a distinct aroma. They can be irritating to mucous membranes, so they must be applied with great caution to avoid getting into the mouth, nose or eyes.

Directions

There is no hard and fast rule about how often to apply the ointment. 2-3 times per day is usually adequate. The effects of a thin application last several hours, so applying it too often is wasteful and not recommended. There are 5 levels of CBC Clinic treatment jars. I go with level five, due to the fact that when patients schedule to see me, they are in high levels of discomfort.  Usually, the pain relief is immediate. After about a week, most patients discontinue using it, due to its effectiveness.  And of course, I find that my patients are using it for many other aches and pains they have from arthritis to fibromyalgia and everything in between.  It is available in my product store if you are interested. As I stated earlier, you should consult your dentist first if you suspect you have any issue with your TMJ or associated jaws, as a diagnosis must be made first before a treatment can be recommended. Delaying necessary treatment while masking pain will result in diminishing prognoses.