Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

TMJ Pain Symptoms and Home Care Tips

Friday, July 26, 2013

Are you experiencing jaw pain, headaches or facial pain? Maybe your ears feel a little funny or you have neck and shoulder pain that you have never felt before. These can all be symptoms of TMJ pain.

TMJ is shorthand for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. There are many causes for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and treatment for the disorder will vary for each individual. Until you can visit your neuromuscular dentist for diagnosis and treatment here are some ideas to help relieve your discomfort at home.

Do NOT chew gum.
Apply cold packs. Apply an ice pack to the side of your face for 10 minutes (wrap in a towel to protect your skin). Reapply after 20-30 minutes.
Eat a soft diet. Stick to soft foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and soup. The idea is to rest your jaw muscles as much as possible. Don't eat hard, crunchy foods like raw carrots, pretzels or really chewy foods.
Avoid opening your mouth wide. Try to keep your mouth movements small when you yawn. You will be more comfortable if you avoid extreme jaw movement.
Hold the Phone. This means hold it with your hand, do not rest it between your ear and shoulder.
Don't Rest Your Chin - Do you rest your chin on your hand? Time to stop. Also, check your pillow position at night - find a comfortable position that doesn't place pressure on your face or jaw.
Lips Together, Teeth Apart - Practice keeping your teeth slightly apart to help avoid unconscious clenching or grinding of your teeth during the day.
Try Over The Counter Medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can be purchased at almost any store. Follow the dosing directions carefully and remember to always have food in your stomach before you take these medications (see #3 above) because they can injure your stomach lining.

These tips may help alleviate some of the pain, headaches and other symptoms you are experiencing until your appointment.

These tips are not a treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and will not replace a visit to your neuromuscular dentist. Proper diagnosis and treatment of your individual case is necessary to avoid further damage to the jaw joint.

Please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell today at 561-394-9000 to schedule a consultation.

Labels: TMJ