Self-Care Techniques for Treating TMJ

Millions of people suffer with the pain of temporomandibular joint disorder and most individuals can find relief of pain using various self-care techniques for treating TMJ. Treatment can vary from simple physical therapy to serious surgical procedures. Trying as many self-care relief techniques as possible should be exhausted before considering surgical treatments. If an individual suspects that they may have temporomandibular joint problems, there are?certain?types?of therapy that can be?applied at home to help relieve the pain.

Apply cold packs or moist heat. Ice packs should be applied first followed by gently stretching the mouth. The moist heat is then applied by using a warm wet towel or wash cloth and placing it in the microwave oven. Another method is filling a sock with rice and placing this in the microwave. Eating foods that are soft also helps rest the jaw joints. When experiencing pain from temporomandibular joint disorder, eat foods such as oatmeal or foods like eggs and yogurt. Avoid crunchy foods that are hard to chew such as raw veggies, nuts or chips and also foods that require stretching the mouth wide-open such as burgers and hot dogs.

Clenching and grinding teeth is a major cause of TMJ pain. Becoming self-aware of this can help prevent it. Pay attention to this and try to keep teeth apart and lips closed through the day. It this is a serious problem, taking note of the position of the mouth and teeth every ten minutes can help become aware of this and prevent it. Also try to avoid yawning too widely.

Avoiding stressful situations can help prevent this disorder and help prevent grinding and clenching of teeth. Practicing relaxation techniques, taking part in gentle exercise and using sauna?can help relieve pain. Applying these self-care techniques for treating?TMJ along with getting the proper amount of rest and maintaining a healthy diet can help relieve the painful symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder.