Relief for TMJ

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) can be extremely uncomfortable. It's a condition in which neck pain, headache and jaw pain may be experienced frequently. Many doctors opt to try a gentler approach at first, but more aggressive therapies may be needed later.

Initial Treatment

• Most dentists will determine whether a patient has TMJ based on a physical examination and by asking their patient a few questions. If a diagnosis of TMJ is made, a mouth guard to be worn during sleeping may be prescribed for the patient. TMJ is typically caused from the individual clenching his or her jaw, usually during sleep but sometimes throughout the day as well. Many individuals who clench their teeth together in the daytime aren't even aware that they are doing it or how often they're doing it. Whether it's done during concentration or in anger or general conversation, excessive jaw clenching can cause excruciating pain for many people.

Things to Avoid

• Avoid chewing hard foods, especially ice. If you must chew on ice, make sure it is softened or slushy first. Chewing on ice is extremely hard on your teeth. Avoid chewy or hard foods, such as steak or nuts. Chewing gum should also be avoided.

  If you are diagnosed with TMJ, often the best thing to do is to pay attention to yourself throughout the day. You can't necessarily stop yourself from clenching your jaw in your sleep, but you can understand when and how often you clench it in the daytime and learn how to stop doing it. Some people clench their jaw when they are concentrating or thinking hard about something. This can be a tough habit to break, but it can be broken. Learning to control your jaw-clenching habit in the daytime is a good start and may eventually help you at night while you're asleep too. If not, a mouth guard will be beneficial, if you can stand to wear one.

Other Home Remedies

• There are many options to try that can be implemented at home to help with TMJ. Learning good relaxation techniques is helpful. One school of thought is that TMJ is the cause of stress-related jaw-clenching. Learn to relax your facial muscles throughout the day. Drink plenty of water and make sure you're getting enough sleep at night. Avoid clenching your jaw, keeping your teeth comfortably apart as much as possible.