BEST WAY TO GET RID OF TMJ

Best Way to Get Rid of TMJ

The pain associated with TMJ disorders can be distracting, if not downright debilitating, interfering with the ability to eat, laugh, and talk comfortably. Thankfully, there are many things patients can do to help relieve this pain and restore the health and mobility of the jaw. The temporomandibular joints are located on each side of the skull, where the lower jaw meets the skull. These joints are the hinges that allow the mouth to open and close, and they are supported by muscles and connective tissues. When the bone or any of these tissues becomes irritated, TMJ disorders can arise, causing pain in the jaw; locking or clicking when opening or closing the jaw; pain in the head, neck, or ears; and a variety of other problems. In some patients, these symptoms come and go intermittently, while in other cases, symptoms flare up and then diminish for good. There are some best practices for eliminating the painful, annoying symptoms of TMJ, and they’re the best place to start if you want to get rid of TMJ.

How to Relieve TMJ Pain:

1. Try to keep your jaw muscles as relaxed as possible, avoiding excessive jaw movement like that involved with yawning, yelling, or singing and resisting the unconscious urge to clench the teeth or jaw.
2. Address issues with improper posture, occasionally stretching or taking periodic breaks to avoid taxing certain muscles and to correct postural misalignment. Make sure you have adequate back support wherever you’re sitting, and use a pillow to support your head and upper back if you can’t sit upright.
3. Sleep on your back, using pillows under the neck. If possible, avoid sleeping on your side or your stomach, to reduce pressure on the jaw.
4. Use cold compresses to reduce pain and swelling, alternated with hot compresses to help relax your jaw muscles. Make sure to use these cold and hot therapies for brief periods of time – not longer than 15 to 20 minutes per application – and also make sure to protect your skin with a protective layer, like a towel, between the compress and your face.
5. Try out some meditation or relaxation techniques to relax your jaw. This could be something more formal, like a yoga practice, or it could involve something simple that you find relaxing, like reading or walking outside. Anything that helps you calm your mind and relax your muscles can help.
6. Ask your doctor or dentist for guidance about jaw exercises, which can help relieve pain and increase mobility. These may involve stretching or strengthening the jaw muscles, or they may focus more on relaxation.
7. Try to observe habits that might cause TMJ pain to flare up. For example, clenching the teeth or jaw or chronically biting the nails can put undue pressure on the jaw joints and can lead to TMJ. Making a note of these habits can help you pinpoint why TMJ is acting up, and discussing these habits with your medical provider can help you work toward addressing these habits and the problems they might cause.
8. Avoid foods that require extensive chewing, and don’t chew gum or otherwise overuse the jaw joint. Try to avoid taking overly large bites of food, and exercise caution with hard or very chewy foods, which can irritate an already inflamed area.

If you’ve taken all of these steps and your TMJ symptoms persist, see your doctor or dentist. There are additional approaches to alleviating the pain and discomfort of TMJ, though some of these may require medical intervention, and you should review your options with a medical professional. In most cases, however, observing the recommendations above is sufficient to get rid of TMJ and the discomfort that comes with it.

Curing TMJ