Smiling, eating, and talking are facial movements you perform with so much ease. However, even basic actions could be quite painful for you if you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Fortunately, some at-home remedies for treating Gaithersburg TMJ issues can help reduce the symptoms, including jaw pain and stiffness.
Here are home remedies for TMJ disorders:
- Choose your food carefully
Eating soft meals that are easy to chew, such as applesauce or mashed potatoes, may help reduce jaw pain and discomfort. If you want to consume hard foods such as raw carrots, chop them into very few pieces or eat very little bites. Additionally, limiting sticky, chewy, or gum foods might help you manage your symptoms.
- Ensure proper posture
Spending long lengths of time sitting in an uncomfortable position might make your jaw discomfort worse.
Use a chair with back support to enhance your posture while working and constantly take breaks. When driving, adjust your seat, so it is as upright as possible; when engaging in leisure activities like reading or watching TV, select a location that enables you to sit upright; add a cushion behind your back for support.
Your doctor may recommend the following exercises to enhance your standing or sitting posture: raise your chest, bring your shoulders back, and lightly pinch your shoulder blades to straighten your back muscles.
- Exercise your jaw
Jaw stretches and other facial exercises can reduce TMJ dysfunction symptoms. Ask your physician, dentist, or physical therapist to stretch your jaw muscles at home for instructions. In addition, they can demonstrate how to massage your jaw’s muscles.
- Learn how to deal with stress
Stress can worsen TMJ discomfort; therefore, it is crucial to practice stress management. Some techniques for managing stress at home include deep breathing, deep breathing, meditation, and guided visualization.
- Use heat or cold treatment
Your jaw and facial muscles can be relaxed by placing ice packs or damp, warm heat packs on them. Your doctor will advise you on how long to leave the heat or ice pack on and where to position the packs.
- Wear a bite guard
You may prevent yourself from clenching or grinding your teeth by wearing a bite guard, also known as a stabilization splint. Bite guards are frequently constructed of plastic, fit over your upper and lower teeth, and keep your teeth from contacting one another. There are many different varieties of bite guards available; you can, for instance, wear a hard or soft bite guard.
You should use bite guards only temporarily; your dentist or doctor will let you know how long and how often to wear them. Stop using the bite guard immediately and contact your doctor if it causes further discomfort or starts to alter the way you bite.
It might be much simpler to manage your TMJ condition if you include these at-home remedies in your overall treatment strategy. Make careful to keep track of your symptoms while you use these therapies. Speak with your doctor immediately if your TMJ symptoms worsen or if you have any new symptoms.
Call CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center to book your appointment for TMJ disorder treatment.
