Top Ten Tips - Treating TMJ Pain
By Tip Diva | Jun 29, 2008
Categories: Behavior, Dentist, Difficulty, Doctor, Eating, Exercise, Food, Health, Insurance, Medical, Medicine, Sickness, Tips
If you suffer temporomandibular joint disorder (commonly referred to as TMJ) like Tip Diva, you may have trouble getting your medical and dental insurance plans to cover any treatment. But there are at-home remedies you can use to reduce, or even get rid of, the pain:
- Avoid Hard-To-Eat Foods - Don’t eat food that is crunchy, chewy, or otherwise requires a lot of jaw movement. If you begin to feel any pain, switch to softer foods.
- Avoid Chewing Gum - Chewing gum is one of the worst pain-causing culprits. If you need to snack on something, try sucking on a hard candy instead - and don’t bite the hard candy!
- Massage Your Jaw - If your jaw begins to tighten or you feel some pain, try gently massaging it with the palm of your hand.
- Maintain Good Posture, And Move Around - Bad posture can affect your jaw alignment, so make sure you sit up straight and don’t stay still for too long a period. Get up and stretch.
- Try To Avoid Stress - Stress causes Tip Diva to clench her jaw, which means a lot of pain. If your stress goes to your jaw area, then do what it takes to reduce or remove the source of stress.
- Use Hot And Cold Compresses - Hot compresses help reduce muscle tension, while cold compresses numb the pain and decrease inflammation.
- Try A Pain Reliever To Reduce Swelling - Use an over-the-counter pain reliever/anti-inflammatory like Advil or Aleve to help reduce some of the pain and inflammation that comes with TMJ.
- Ask Your Doctor About Pain Medications - If the over-the-counter medications don’t work, ask your doctor or dentist about stronger pain relievers or muscle relaxers.
- Inform Your Dentist You Have Jaw Problems - If you have TMJ, make sure everyone in the dentist’s office knows, from the hygienist to the dentist. You don’t want your mouth open for too long a time if you’re getting a check-up or filling done.
- Inquire About A Retainer If You Clench Your Jaw - If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about a retainer that can stop or reduce clenching and grinding.
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Thanks for your contribution to this month’s “Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival.” These tips will surely help my readers.