TMJ Pain Remedies

TMJ pain can be debilitating. There are some very basic TMJ remedies available at the tip of your fingers that not only relieve TMJ pain, are easy to do; they also have very little out of pocket if any, so they are not creating more stress with financial burden. Let's start with the easiest and one that helps not only your TMJ but also the entire body, walking.

So why is walking a TMJ remedy you need to start doing today? First of all, because it improves your mood, going for walks is great for removing stress and anxiety. Moreover, you'll find yourself sleeping much deeper at night. Instead of a night tossing, turning, and possibly grinding your teeth, you'll awake refreshed and relaxed - as will your TMJ. Walking will also increase your appetite. Your body will start to crave the kind of food that helps reduce inflammation and swelling in your jaw joints, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. Going for a walk is just about the easiest way to start reducing TMJ pain.

When your body starts to crave the foods that will help in reducing inflammation, here are some things to consider. Number one; make sure the body is being hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps the body hydrated, which helps relax muscles. When the body is dehydrated the muscles start to tense up. Drinking caffeinated drinks (coffee, soda), especially the energy drinks like Red Bull - which are high in caffeine, dehydrates the body and causing tension and tight muscles. Recommendation is starting your day with 15 ounces of water and drink additional water throughout the day.

Magnesium rich foods help also to relax muscles. Those foods include: spinach, nuts, artichokes, beans, tomato paste, cornmeal, buckwheat flour, raw oat bran, whole wheat flour, raw barley, to name a few of the foods rich in magnesium.

Calcium works with magnesium to help muscles and nerves relax. 600 mg two times a day preferably with magnesium is recommended for supplements. Foods rich in calcium: milk, salmon, tofu, kale, cottage cheese and broccoli.

Glutamine has been used to prevent soreness in muscles after workouts. Clenching/grinding your teeth is one heck of a workout! Glutamine supplements may help also in relieving muscle soreness.

Deep breathing helps by filling your lungs with oxygen. When we get stressed, we will shorten our breathing not getting the oxygen needed to relax muscles. Breathing in through the nose deeply (inhaling) filling your abdomen, holding for a second and breathing out (exhaling) through your mouth gently pushing on your abdomen with your hand. Doing this a few times multiple times a day encourages muscle relaxation.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves relaxing a series of muscles one at a time. First increase the tension level in a group of muscles, preferably not the TMJ muscles, such as the leg or arm. This is done by tightening the muscles and then relaxing them. Then move on to the next muscle group. Sometimes applying warm, moist heat helps relax the muscles also.

Meditation is one of the best ways to calm the mind and the body. Meditation is done by sitting or lying quietly focusing on nothing or on a simple sound repeated over and over. By doing this the body enters a restful state and reduces your body's stress responses, including muscle tightness. As you enter this state, your breathing slows and muscles relax.

These home remedies can greatly reduce and many times eliminate the muscle tightness associated with the TMJ, thereby relieving TMJ pain.