More often than not, jaw problems heal on their own in several months if not weeks. But even as you wait for the jaw to get fully healed, you could experience some excruciating pain that can obviously become very stubborn ,enough to deny you a comfortable sleep. The good thing is, Piazzadental.com.au shared some easy ways for you to find relief with using home remedies to contain tmj dysfunction and pain. Hence, you don’t have to break a bank to contain stubborn pains. Home remedies are often extremely cheap while others are easily available over the counter.
Accordingly, here are some of the most common and effective tmj treatment at home
1. Side Sleeping
Sleeping on your side provides extra support between the shoulder and the neck. You can use a pillow when sleeping on your side.
2. Use Moist Heat
Moist heat helps reduce pain and while boosting function. To achieve this, use a hot water bottle or a heat pack wrapped in a warm and moist towel. but also be careful not to burn yourself when doing this.
3. Exercise the jaw
If a recent study on jaw exercises is anything to go by, then therapeutic jaw exercises help in speeding up the recovery of jaw function. Slow and gentle jaw exercises increase jaw mobility, which speeds up the healing process.
4. Go for a soft diet
Avoid chewy, crunchy and hard foods and go for the soft diets.These allow the jaw to rest temporarily because you don’t have to stretch your mouth to accommodate much food while chewing.
5. Use Ice Packs
Ice packs help to alleviate inflammation and also numbs your skin to speed up healing. You should maintain the pack wrapped in a clean soft cloth while you’re using it, and remember that you should not use an ice pack for more than 15 minutes. Also do not place the ice pack directly on the skin.
6. OTC Analgesics
Over the counter analgesics such as ibruprofen can effectively counter tmj disorders , and so you can get temporary jaw relief from using such medicines. However, your dentist can recommend stronger muscle relaxants,antidepressants and anti-inflammatory medicines to ease your discomfort when necessary.
7. Relaxing facial muscles
This involves keeping facial muscles such as the lips relaxed. Keep the teeth apart to avoid discomfort in the jaw.
8. Physical activity and relaxation techniques
Massage, Yoga,meditation,deep and slow breathing enhances relaxation,hence dealing with tmj pains.
Note, if your tmj pains and discomfort continue to worsen ,seek professional advice from your dentist.