When you have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), even basic facial movements like chewing and talking can start to cause you a lot of pain. A trained dentist can help address the problems causing the disorder so that your jaw joints can heal, but in the meantime, you’ll probably want an immediate solution to the pain. Fortunately, you have quite a few options for at-home TMD relief in Tullahoma; here are just a few examples.
1. Eat More Soft Foods
Your jaw has to work harder to chew hard or crunchy foods, so if you’re looking to relieve your TMD pain, a good start is to switch to softer foods. The less chewing you need to do, the less pressure and stress you’ll put on your jaw joints, giving them a chance to rest and recover from any inflammation. Several weeks of eating soft foods can go a long way towards relieving symptoms.
2. Manage Your Stress
Stress is one of the leading causes of TMD. People who are stressed have a tendency to clench their jaws without realizing it, and this can take a toll on the jaw joints the more often it happens. Try taking a few basic steps to unwind, such as taking a daily walk or practicing yoga; once you let go of some of your stress, you can see if it has any impact on your TMD.
3. Be Mindful of Your Jaw Movements
Some jaw movements are more extreme than others and are more taxing on your joints. Frequent yawning, yelling, and loud singing are all known to put a strain on your jaw. Try to limit these activities as much as possible and keep your jaw in a resting position whenever you can.
4. Apply Heat or Cold to Your Jaw
You can reduce pain in your jaw joints by applying a heat pack or ice pack to the area. A cold pack is the better option if you’re trying to cut down inflammation and swelling, since it limits blood flow to the area. If there’s no inflammation to worry about, heat therapy can be useful for improving flexibility of the muscles around the joint, and it can encourage healing. Whichever option you pick, remember to only apply heat or cold to the area for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
Since TMD can have different causes and symptoms, your dentist might have a few additional suggestions for steps you can take to manage your pain at home. Remember that while home TMD remedies may not be any sort of substitute for professional care, they can still make your daily life a lot easier while you’re getting the problem under control.
About the Author
Dr. John E. Petty is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and has served twice as the General Chairman of the Annual Session of the Tennessee Dental Association. He highly values being able to give his patients plenty of time to listen to their concerns and figure out their unique needs. One of the services he provides at Petty Dental is TMD therapy; if you’re having trouble with chronic jaw pain, you can schedule a consultation with him by visiting his website or calling (931) 454-9499.