How To Relieve TMJ Pain At Home

TMJ is a condition that can cause a lot of discomfort on a daily basis. However, you may not need to get surgery to fix the problem, as there are many natural remedies that you can try on your own. Give these strategies a try and see if they give you relief from your TMJ-related pain.

Hot and Cold Therapy

You can use hot and cold therapy to give yourself relief from TMJ. Try applying a heating pad or warm compress to the affected area, which will help relax your jaw muscles and reduce inflammation. You can then switch to using a cold pack to reduce swelling and numb the area. Try switching between the two methods to see if it helps with your discomfort.

Jaw Exercises

Another option is to perform gentle jaw exercises, which will relax and strengthen the muscles around your temporomandibular joint. Try to open your jaw as wide as you can without causing pain, then slowly close your jaw. You can also try placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth, then slowly close and open your mouth. See if these exercises help improve flexibility in your jaw and alleviate pain related to TMJ.

Stress Reduction

It's possible that anxiety and stress are making your TMJ symptoms worse. Combat this by incorporating techniques to reduce stress into your routine every single day. This can help reduce the emotional aspects that aggravate TMJ, which reduces physical pain. It can also help you to participate in activities that help you relax. Take a break from work and listen to music, watch television, or play a fun game.

Dietary Changes

The foods that you eat may be a reason for your TMJ pain. Try eating soft foods that do not require you to chew as much, which will reduce the overall strain on your jaw. It may take several days of changing to a soft food diet to see a difference, but it is an easy way to see if the foods you eat are causing the problem.

Herbal Remedies

It's worth trying herbal remedies to see if they can improve TMJ pain. Chamomile tea is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which will reduce muscle tension in your jaw. Turmeric is a spice that also has anti-inflammatory properties, and can be added to meals when cooking. 

Not having much luck with natural remedies for TMJ? Reach out to your dentist for a potential treatment to help relieve your discomfort. 

For more info about TMJ treatment, contact a local company.