TMJ, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, affects millions of people across North America. TMJ causes pain and tension in your jaw joint and the muscles surrounding it. While the exact cause of TMJ is unknown, it seems to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors, such as arthritis, teeth grinding caused by stress, and more. For some people, they can treat their symptoms using at-home remedies, but others need more intense TMJ treatment in Kitchener. In this blog post, our team at B Smaily Dental has put together a list of practices that you can use to relieve your TMJ pain. Read on to learn more!
1. Create a Treatment Plan with Your Dentist
The best place to start when trying to get your TMJ pain under control is by booking an appointment with a dentist near you. They can evaluate the extent of your pain and try to determine the cause. From there, they can create a personalized treatment plan to help alleviate your pain.
2. Ice Your Jaw
Many people already know that icing is beneficial when your muscles are feeling strained or tired, and this same thing applies to your jaw and TMJ pain. It is important to ice your jaw when it is feeling sore or tired. Icing your jaw for about twenty minutes on and off during the day is an excellent form of TMJ treatment near you.
3. Use Anti-Inflammatories
For bad pain, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories can be used to alleviate your pain temporarily. Try ibuprofen, but remember not to go over the suggested dosage per day.
4. Try Stress Reduction and Management Techniques
TMJ has often been associated with excessive jaw clenching and grinding. It is important to be aware of daily stressors and activities that cause you to clench and grind more and attempt to reduce these stressors as much as you can. Additionally, try to instill practices to release and relax your jaw during specifically stressful times.
5. Avoid Gum Chewing
Since your jaw joints are already stressed out and tired, overworking them by chewing gum is not a good idea. If you are looking for a quick fix for smelly breath, try sucking on a breath mint instead.
6. Get a TMJ Splint
Some people suffer from a condition known as bruxism, which is the unconscious clenching and grinding of teeth during sleep. To remedy this, ask your dentist in Kitchener for a TMJ splint, or night guard, to wear at night. This will place a protective barrier between your upper and lower jaw and relieve tension caused by clenching and grinding at night.
7. Try Physical Therapy
For some people, learning exercises for their jaw can help prevent TMJ pain by strengthening their jaw and relieving muscle tension. It is important to seek out the help of a professional when it comes to these exercises because doing them wrong can aggravate symptoms rather than correct them.
Visit B Smaily Dental
If you would like to learn more about your options for TMJ treatment, the best place to start is with a consultation with a dentist. We are happy to provide advice and TMJ treatment to our patients. Please do not hesitate to contact us and book an appointment today.