If your dentist has diagnosed you with
TMJ, you might be wondering what you can do at home to relieve your symptoms.
Dr. Michael Iott, New York City cosmetic dentist serving Manhattan, NYC and Queens, offers the following suggestions:
Increase blood flow to the area. You can do this with moist heat or ice, but once you experiment to see which works best, stay with it and don’t go back and forth between the two. Apply the heat or ice to the sides of your jaw to assist the flow of blood to this area.
Try
stretching your mouth by opening and closing it very gently. No jerky or sudden movements that might further injure the joint. However, also be careful to limit large jaw movements. For example, if you’re going to yawn, hold your fist under your chin to keep from yawning so widely you overstress and further irritate the jaw muscle.
Massaging the joint and the jaw works for some, by bringing more blood to the area to assist with healing.
Purchase a moldable mouth guard from a sporting goods store and use that to hold your teeth in place and support your jaw until you see your dentist.
Limit yourself to soft foods and give your jaw a break from working. Avoid bagels, pretzels, hard candy, or any foods that require intense chewing.
Take one aspirin and call me in the morning. One aspirin followed several minutes later by a self massage using a hot washcloth has worked wonders for some sufferers.
Sit up straight. Watch your posture to be sure you’re not subconsciously stretching your jaw out of place. As you sit and stand, check to see that your cheekbones line up with your clavicle and you ears are naturally in line with your shoulders.
Send your pillow south. Stop using a pillow for a while and try this: Roll up a towel to fit under your neck (it should be about as thick as your wrist). Roll up a second towel to slide in under the small of your back, and put your pillow under your knees. This is a very relaxing position that will allow your jaw to rest.
Stop grinding your teeth. You may not be aware you’re doing this, especially in your sleep. Your dentist can fit you for an appliance you can wear at night that will relieve
teeth grinding, called ‘bruxism.”
The
common signs of TMJ, (headaches, toothaches, muscle aches of the shoulder, neck and back, and a popping or clicking noise in your jaw when you open or close your mouth) will go away when your condition is corrected. However, see your dentist immediately if you can’t open your mouth, are not able to brush your teeth, or are experiencing sharp headaches, which could indicate your TMJ is getting worse.
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