How to Find TMJ Relief While You Wait for Your Dental Appointment

A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can cause discomfort, headaches, and pain. In addition, you may have difficulties with eating, talking, or sleeping. Unfortunately, you may have a wait on your hands before you can see your TMJ dentist for your scheduled appointment. Here are some helpful TMJ relief tips that Chesterland, Ohio, residents can practice while waiting for their scheduled visit.

Maybe It Will Go Away on Its Own

It’s entirely possible your TMJ pain can go away on its own. TMJ disorders can come from various sources; not all will leave you with a long-term issue. For example, some common causes of TMJ pain can stem from the following:

• A jaw injury
• Teeth clenching or teeth grinding
• Arthritis or another bone disorder
• Stress and anxiety

Sometimes the symptoms will fade. If that happens, you should still see a TMJ dentist to make sure you really had a temporary issue rather than a recurring one.

Eat Soft Foods and Avoid Excessive Chewing

Your jaw needs rest. Eating hard, crunchy foods will give your jaw far too much of a workout. Eat soft foods and foods that don’t require a lot of chewing. 

You should not chew gum. And, while you might use ice to help soothe your pain, you certainly should not eat it.

Also, avoid foods that would typically cause you to open your mouth too wide. Instead, eat smaller bites and portions.

Apply Heat, Apply Ice, Apply Both

The goal with heat or ice is to reduce inflammation, which will help to reduce pain. You may find relief from one or the other of these two extremes, but you might also want to try switching between the two every 15 minutes or so.

Try Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

Choose a medication that targets pain, like acetaminophen, and one that deals with swelling and inflammation, like an NSAID. If you’re taking prescription medications for anything else, speaking to your healthcare provider before taking OTC pain medication is probably best.

Keep Your Jaw as Relaxed as Possible

Keep your jaw relaxed. Try to keep your teeth apart but avoid opening your mouth too wide or putting it through exaggerated movements. For example, avoid any yelling or elaborate singing routines.

Pay Attention to Pain Triggers

Pay attention to what you’re doing when the pain increases or lessens. For example, if you lie on your stomach and the TMJ pain increases, then you know that laying on your back or side may bring a little relief.

Try to Relax and Remain Calm

As stress can lead to a TMJ disorder, practicing stress-relieving activities can sometimes help. Even if your TMJ pain doesn’t come from stress or anxiety, some mindful relaxation may help you better deal with the discomfort or pain. 

You can easily combine many of these TMJ pain relief tips as you wait for your scheduled dentist appointment. You can also call the dental office to see what they recommend as well. 

If you have questions about TMJ disorders or pain, call (440) 491-4001 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brianne Fratantonio and the Chesterland Family Dental Care team in Chesterland, Ohio.

Share this Article