1. Change Your Diet
Eating hard foods or foods that require a lot of chewing because of their consistency can worsen TMJ pain. Making modifications and replacements can help the chewing process and in turn help the muscles of the jaw relax. Certain foods are especially damaging: crunchy bread crusts, hard fruits such as apples, dried fruits or other types of chewy items. Anything that requires you to open your mouth considerably, such as large sandwiches, can also cause problems. Instead, try eating softer foods and cutting everything in small pieces, so the chewing is reduced to a minimum. At times when the pain is intense, focus on soft foods or liquid meals.
2. Fight Stress
Since stress is one of the main causes of TMJ, learning to control it can go a long way in the fight against jaw pain. Meditation is a great way to do this, as not only helps with mental stress, but it can also help relax muscles and indirectly reduce pain. When it comes to dealing with TMJ, exercise plays a double role in treatment. On one hand, exercise helps relieve stress and ease pain. On the other hand, certain types of exercise, such as yoga, can help strengthen the muscles of the neck and shoulder, which are connected to the jaw. As the muscles become stronger, inflammation usually subsides or becomes more manageable and pain diminishes.
3. Consider Medication
When TMJ is caused by a medical condition such as osteoarthritis, improvements can usually be seen as soon as drug treatment for the main problem is started. If TMJ doesn't respond to the traditional treatment, it may be because the problem has been aggravated by other issues, such as stress or a misaligned bite. In any case, a course of anti-inflammatory medication can ease the pain and help the muscles relax and heal properly. This will allow the osteoarthritis medication to work better and faster. For slight pain or discomfort that comes and goes, doctors may recommend some type of OTC painkiller, such as ibuprofen, as an ongoing solution.
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