4 Ways to Minimize Jaw Pain While at Home

Dealing with chronic jaw pain at home can be debilitating. Being unable to eat, speak, or even sleep, may cause you to wonder if there is any hope for your situation. Seeing a reliable professional who can implement proven treatments is necessary, but what can you do in the meantime? Here are four unique ways to minimize pain and achieve temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) relief while at home.

Avoid Hard, Crunchy Foods

Although this first tip may not be what you hope to hear, you’ll want to forgo any hard, crunchy foods and instead, opt for softer options that don’t require much chewing. Soups, mashed potatoes, pureed vegetables, oatmeal, and yogurt are great options that will not only provide nutrients but prevent you from placing additional pressure on your jaw joints. By adopting a soft food diet for a few weeks, you give your jaw the opportunity to rest.

Apply Heat and Ice

If you follow a specific routine of moist heat, facial stretches, and cold packs, you can begin to feel much-needed relief. Not only will your facial muscles begin to relax, but you’ll gently work your jaw in a way that doesn’t apply pressure but instead, encourages positive stretching. Not to mention, the heat and cold will help to minimize any discomfort you might experience during this time.

Take Over-the-Counter Medicines

Whether the other at-home solutions work or not, you can also rely on over-the-counter pain relievers to help. When discomfort and swelling are evident, an anti-inflammatory can help you mitigate some of your symptoms and begin to feel relief. If you experience more severe problems (i.e., bruxism), you may need to see a medical physician who can prescribe a muscle relaxant, so you do not continue to place additional pressure on your facial muscles and jaw joints.

Minimize Your Stress Level

Identifying the reason for your stress isn’t always easy, but it can certainly go a long way in making sure you do not experience significant TMD pain. Whether it is work, family, school, or a host of other things, try to incorporate stress-relieving activities into your daily life, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, physical activity, yoga, reading a book, taking a warm bath, etc.

Once you can see your dentist for TMD help, you can rest assured you’ll receive the professional care you need to no longer be plagued by chronic jaw pain. However, in the meantime, by adopting these tips, you’ll better manage your symptoms at home and achieve some level of relief.

About the Author
As a board-certified nurse practitioner, general dentist, and dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Shelley Shults is committed to helping patients get better sleep. Graduating from The Ohio State University in 2001 with her Doctor of Dental Surgery, she has since devoted her career to serving as an expert in sleep medicine. If you or a loved one are dealing with intense jaw pain that hinders your ability to eat, speak, or sleep, contact us at (614) 396-9310.