If you are dealing with TMJ pain that just won’t seem to go away, you are far from alone. According to some estimates, as many as 10 million people in the US are struggling with a jaw issue. Is there anything you can do at home without having to go to the doctor? If you need more help, is there a natural solution? Here are some tips to help you break free from jaw pain.
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Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to get help for TMJ without a doctor before we introduce you to an alternative way to find some natural relief.
The number one thing you can do for your jaw when it hurts is to give it a break. That may mean eating softer foods for a couple of days. You also want to avoid activities that require stretching your jaw wide, so opera singing probably isn’t the best idea if you can avoid it.
Misalignments are often at the heart of TMJ issues. If you frequently crane your neck to look at your smartphone, try raising the phone to eye level or just using your devices a little less often. If you work in an office, make sure that your monitors are all at eye level. Don’t hold a phone between your ear and shoulder. If you need your hands free, try earbuds or use speakerphone.
Stress is one of the top causes of problems in this entire region of the body. Whether your jaw is the only thing that hurts, or you are also dealing with pain in your neck and shoulders, stress may be a significant underlying factor. Whether you need to take a short vacation or just do a little daily exercise to keep stress levels down, this may be one of the best ways to relieve your chronic pain.
Grinding of the teeth can throw off the alignment of the teeth and jaw. This can sometimes be at the heart of chronic jaw pain. Conquering bruxism may help you to stop adding to the damage. One way to do this is to destress. Another is to prevent your teeth from being able to grind during the night with the help of a mouthguard. While these are available at a pharmacy, you are better off with a custom fit one. Your dentist can either provide this or refer you to someone who can.
In many cases, chronic jaw pain is related to inflammation. If you are looking for a natural alternative to taking an NSAID, or if your jaw hurts too often and you don’t want to overmedicate, ice may be the answer. Remember that you should only ice your jaw for 20 minutes at a time and that the ice should not come into direct contact with your skin. You want to reduce inflammation – not give yourself frostbite.
Stretching the jaw and massaging it can help to relieve stress and tension from the surrounding soft tissue. This can assist your jaw to relax and may lessen the stiffness or soreness. Stretching the jaw and massaging it are particularly important if you have issues with the TMJ locking up.
If you ever drink energy beverages or if you just consume a ton of coffee, the caffeine may not be helping your situation. Too much caffeine can increase anxiety and muscle tension. This, in turn, can increase jaw pain. Your coffee habit isn’t the cause of your jaw pain, but it may be making things worse.
If you try the home remedies and you still need more help, it may be because there is an underlying issue in the neck. Upper cervical misalignments can affect the jaw and ears since they are so close. It doesn’t take much of a misalignment to lead to an issue because these are the bones that support the skull. The body will work to make sure your head is level, sometimes resulting in other discomforts.
The upper cervical spine can become misaligned due to accidents and injuries but also through wear and tear when a person maintains poor posture over a period of time. Therefore, it is essential to have this specific location in the neck checked if you have any indicators of such a subluxation. Chronic jaw pain is one potential indicator. How can you discern if this is the problem and then correct it? We would like to introduce you to upper cervical specific chiropractic.
To get natural help for your TMJ, upper cervical specific chiropractic may be the answer. An upper cervical chiropractor will begin with x-rays that allow for precise measurements of any existing misalignment. Next, calculations help provide a customized and gentle adjustment for each patient. Since gentle adjustments are long-lasting, your body has the time it needs to heal.
As the surrounding soft tissue stabilizes, you should be able to space your appointments apart, making this a cost-effective way to seek natural health benefits. To learn more, contact an upper cervical practitioner in your area. You may have just found the natural way to get rid of pesky jaw pain for good.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
