Temporomandibular joint pain is best treated with the guidance of a neuromuscular dentist. There really isn’t any substitute for years of specialized experience treating the same condition in thousands of variants. But, if you can’t get to the doctor for a few months or you have another extenuating circumstance you have to do something right? Aside from taking over-the-counter pain relievers (which are not a solution), there are some ways to care for TMJ pain at-home that can take the edge off.
How Do You Know It’s TMD?
As we mentioned above, you should see a doctor. If for nothing else than to at least put a name to what you’re feeling. That will always be the best way to know for sure if your [link id=’114′ text=’symptoms are consistent with temporomandibular joint disorder‘ esc_html=’false’]. Some of the most common symptoms associated with TMD include:
- Sleep apnea
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Lockjaw
- Popping of the joint
- Painful chewing
- Forward head posture
4 Self-Care Tips for TMJ Pain
Four of the most effective things you can do from home to help care for TMJ pain at-home include:
- Eat soft foods
- Apply ice packs
- Avoid extreme jaw movements
- Learn to relax and reduce stress
1. Eat Soft Foods
Eating softer foods puts less stress on your jaw muscles because soft foods require less pressure to break down.
2. Apply an Ice Pack
Ice is a well-known pain reliever. Applying an ice pack to the affected area can reduce the blood flow and prevent inflammation, reducing pain. Ice packs can also help to numb the area, which can provide temporary relief too.
3. Avoid Extreme Jaw Movements
Yawning, loud singing, gum chewing, and eating hard foods that require more pressure to break into or to chew through can put added stress on the jaw.
4. Learn to Relax and Reduce Stress
Stress often leads people subconsciously to tense their muscles, like clenching their jaw. Other stress habits like repetitive “tics” such as lip or cheek chewing are common too. Both of these stress responses strain the jaw and can promote more pain. Practicing stress management exercises like meditation, prayer, or exercise, can help avoid these behaviors or at least reduce your stress.
TMJ Disorder Treatment
For more information on TMJ disorder and potential treatment options, call Dr. Pamela Marzban’s office at 703-349-4277 or fill out our [link id=’50003′ text=’contact form‘ esc_html=’false’].
