Throughout her career, Dr. Jennifer Santoro has seen her share of the more than 10 million Americans who suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain. While some patients require orthodontic work to realign the teeth, others can find effective relief from the pain with smaller interventions. Dr. Santoro offers the following tips to patients with TMJ:
Be More Judicious of Your Chewing
Extremely tough and chewy foods require more effort from your jaw, which increases the likelihood that you will experience pain. Choose foods that are softer and require less biting to give your jaw a break.
Naturally, this tip applies to chewing gum as well. Given that gum has no nutritional benefit, it is a habit that is wholly counterproductive to handling TMJ. If you are concerned about your breath, either brush your teeth or opt for a mint.
On top of that, bad habits like chewing on pen caps or your fingernails only serve to make your TMJ worse, so resolve to put a stop to unnecessary chewing, particularly when it comes to things that are not even food.
Practice Jaw Exercises
Doctors frequently recommend a handful of facial movements that you can perform that have been shown to help relieve TMJ pain. These movements include opening the mouth wide, massaging the face, stretching the tongue in various directions and putting pressure on the chin. During an appointment, Dr. Santoro will gladly demonstrate some of these exercises for you so that you may incorporate them into your daily routine.
Limit Your Stress
When stressful situations arise, people with TMJ will often unconsciously clench or carry their tension in their jaws. Avoiding stressful experiences — to whatever extent is possible — makes it easier for your jaw to relax.
Obviously, that is much easier said than done, so if life and work make avoiding stress impossible, then the next best solution is to proactively engage in activities that are known to reduce stress such as going for a walk, practicing yoga and cuddling with a pet. These actions can help calm your mind and subsequently unclench your jaw.
Use a Hot or Cold Compress
If you need instantaneous relief, applying either hot or cold temperatures to your face can do the trick. A stiff jaw can be treated with heating pads, which will help increase your blood circulation and allow your muscles to move more easily. Ice packs, meanwhile, will slow the circulation of blood, which is useful to cut down on inflammation and swelling.
Wear a Mouth Guard
Mouth guards are successful at stopping people from clenching and grinding their teeth, two behaviors that can lead to extra jaw pain. While there are generic versions available at most pharmacies, if you are serious about wearing a mouth guard on a regular basis, come meet with Dr. Santoro so she can make a custom mouthguard that will fit more comfortably in your mouth and be easier to sleep in.
Speak to an Expert
The best way to determine the appropriate course of action for your TMJ is to meet with Dr. Santoro. She will take X-rays to determine the root cause of the pain and whether a more serious orthodontic procedure is necessary. To schedule a TMJ consultation, contact Village Center Dentistry at (858) 566-8510.
