TMJ or temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull on the
side of the head. People with TMJ disorder are encountering dysfunction
around the jaw joint and muscles making jaw movement painful and
difficult. Suffering from this disorder can be very disturbing and you
have to know how to manage TMJ disorder.
The symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder can be very
distressing and can affect the quality of your life. Symptoms include
jaw pain, stiffness or locking of jaw, facial pain, headache, ear pain
and difficulty to open and close the mouth. You may need to visit an ENT
doctor, a dentist or a general health provider to address your
symptoms. While it is recommended to visit a doctor it is also important
to learn how to manage TMJ disorder. Here are some tips:
Avoid worsening your condition. To properly manage TMJ disorder,
TMJ self-care practices is important. Give your jaw some rest and avoid
too much jaw and mouth activity. Avoid big bites, chewing gums and
hard-to-chew foods. Eat soft foods or cut foods into small bites to
avoid aggravating your condition.
Pain medication. Over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can
help to temporarily ease the painful symptoms of TMJ disorder. It is
important to understand that prolonged use of pain medication can cause
side effects. It is best to ask your doctor if pain relievers are not
effective. Different people have different response to medications.
Cold or warm compress. You can manage TMJ diosrder with simple warm
or cold compress for the immediate relief of TMJ pain. You may choose to
apply either a moist heat or ice pack on the affected area to improve
blood flow and to get rid of the pain.
Jaw exercises and therapy. Your therapist or health provider can help
you with an exercise program to improve your jaw movement and to
alleviate the pain. It is important to learn to manage TMJ disorder using simple jaw relaxation exercises and stretching with the help of your doctor or therapist.
The pain and discomforts of TMJ may last for months and it can become a chronic problem.
It is important to explore different natural treatments to get rid of
TMJ pain without the side effects of drugs. To learn how to treat and manage TMJ disorder using natural treatments, visit Eliminate TMJ
