TMJ Treatment To Help Relieve Pain
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name for each joint (right and left) that connects your jaw to your skull. When the joints of the jaw and the chewing muscles do not work together correctly, symptoms like pain or a “clicking” sound occur.
Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and TMJ treatment are important.
If you have trouble opening your mouth wide, suffer from jaw pain, hear a clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth, use the following list to help relieve some of the pain:
1. Apply Heat To The Area Of The Joint
Applying heat to the area of the joint can reduce pain and relax the muscles. For heat, apply to the area for 15-20 minutes.
2. Take Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers
If your pain is too excruciating, taking Advil, Motrin, Aleve or other over the counter anti-inflammatory medications drugs can help. Short-term use of over these medicines can reduce joint and muscle pain.
3. Massage The Jaw and Neck Muscles
Use your fingers and provide a constant, circular motion against the joints and muscles that are most affected by the TMJ pain. Doing this improves blood flow and removes the irritating materials resulting in some pain relief.
4. Eat Soft Foods and Avoid Chewing Gum
Avoid chewing gum, jelly candies or any hard food such as ice or hard candies when big bites are necessary. Chewing gum and hard foods put a strain on the temporomandibular joints, and the muscles surrounding these joints and wear them down.
5. Relax The Jaw
A splint (or nightguard) fits over your top or bottom teeth and helps keep your teeth apart, thereby relaxing the muscles and reducing pain. A nightguard helps you stop clenching or grinding your teeth and reduces muscle tension at night.
If you are one of the million people who suffer pain from TMJ, avoid chewing gum, relax the jaw, massage the jaw, apply ice or heat, or take over the counter pain relievers to help with TMJ treatment. If the pain is extreme, contact the oral surgeons at East Mississippi Oral & Facial Surgery, LLC at 601-485-2494 today.