TMJ Therapy Columbus OH
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APPLYING HOT OR COLD PACKS
Applying hot or cold packs to the affected area could help ease the pain associated with this disorder. Moist heat, ice or even a combination of the two can be pressed up against the painful area(s). Most patients reported to preferring a heat compress for their TMJ therapy. However, every person’s body is different, and sometimes heat can increase your pain. It will be wise to use a combination of the two (by taking turns) or by using ice alone.
Apply moist heat for 20 minutes, two to four times each day. You can easily perform this pain treatment at home by wetting a towel with very warm water. You can keep the towel warm by wrapping it around a hot water bottle or by placing a piece of plastic wrap and a heating pad over it. The towel also can be rewarmed in a microwave oven or under very warm tap water.
Use the combination of heat and ice, two to four times each day. Apply the heat as recommended above for 10 minutes, then lightly brush the painful area with an ice cube wrapped in a thin washcloth. Repeat this sequence four or five times. Apply ice wrapped in a thin washcloth to the painful area until you begin to feel the affected painful area begin to numb (usually in about 10 minutes), then remove it. Some patients report of having alleviated pain because of the use of night guard therapy control or even Botox. Every patient with TMJ can experience different levels of pain. Talk to your periodontist about these another version of pain relief and how they can help you reduce the pressure pains of TMJ.
Some More Suggestions
Eat Soft Foods
Confine your diet to soft foods such as casseroles, canned fruit, soups, eggs and yogurt. As part of TMJ therapy, do not chew gum or eat hard foods (such as raw carrots) or chewy foods (such as caramels, steak or bagels). Cut other food into small pieces, and chew on both sides of your mouth to reduce the strain from eating on one side.
Keeping Your Jaw Muscles Rested
Keep your teeth apart and practice good posture When you’re not chewing, your teeth should never touch (except occasionally when you swallow). Closely monitor your jaw position for signs of clenching. As a TMJ exercise, try placing your tongue lightly on the top of your mouth behind your upper front teeth, allowing the teeth to come apart and relaxing the jaw muscles.
Good head, neck, and back posture can help you maintain good jaw posture. Try to hold your head up straight, and use a small pillow or rolled towel to support your lower back. Avoid habits such as resting your jaw on your hand or cradling the telephone against your shoulder.
Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine is detrimental to TMJ therapy as it stimulates your muscles to contract and, therefore, become tenser. Caffeine or caffeine-like drugs are in coffee, tea, most sodas, and chocolate. Be aware of the sugary drinks you have as some may stimulate the muscles in your jaw to contract.
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Watch Your Habits
Avoid oral habits that put a strain on the jaw muscles and joints. These include, among others, clenching the teeth; grinding the teeth (bruxism); touching or resting the teeth together; biting your cheeks, your lips or objects you put in your mouth; pushing the tongue against the teeth; and tensing the jaw. If you focus on resting your jaw, you will start to feel more relaxed as a whole. If you continue to strain your jaw in one of the situations listed above, you can be sure that your TMJ therapy will fail and the pain will continue.
Sleep Smart
Avoid sleeping habits that strain your jaw muscles or joints. Don’t sleep on your stomach, and if you sleep on your side, keep your neck and jaw aligned. Doing so will put less stress on jaw muscles, aiding in TMJ therapy.
Don’t Open Wide
Until the pain has been reduced, avoid activities that involve opening the jaw wide—yawning, yelling, prolonged dental treatments, etc. It’s incredibly important to allow your jaw muscles to rest.
Use Medications with TMJ Therapy
Use anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing medications like Aleve (Syntex Laboratories), ibuprofen, Tylenol (McNeil Laboratories), aspirin (without caffeine) and Percogesic (Procter & Gamble) to reduce joint and muscle pain. Avoid medications with caffeine, such as Anacin (Whitehall), Excedrin (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) or Vanquish (Glenbrook). Talk to your doctor about other medications that could help alleviate your jaw muscle pain.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the TMJ therapy listed above, be sure to call our office for more information. Our trained professionals can answer any questions you may have about our TMJ Treatment. You can give us a call or contact us using our online Contact Form. We understand the struggles of TMJ, and we are willing to help aid you in pain relieving tips. While there is no cure for this syndrome, there are many ways to alleviate the pain associated with it.