There are a vast number of TMJ remedies you can do to find pain relief. However, if you have TMJ and braces are something you’re strongly considering then we’d like to congratulate you for your strength and determination.
Dealing with both TMJ and braces at the same time can be a very painful process. If your doctor recommends braces, it’s probably to align your teeth so that you have a proper bite. This alignment is crucial for keeping your jaw balanced and even as you bite down, chew, and clench your teeth.
Hopefully braces will help your TMJ (not to mention it will give you a beautiful smile). Until the metal wires are removed from your mouth, however, you’re going to experience a lot of discomfort. Instead of taking Advil, day after day after day, did you know that there are some all-natural home remedies you can do as your teeth make their slow journey into alignment? Let’s examine a key one here – meditation and breathing – that you can do from home, at work, and even on vacation.
Meditation and Breathing
When you experience the pain caused by both TMJ and braces at the same time, your body’s natural reaction is to tense up. Think about it: everything from a bee sting in the arm to stubbing your toe makes your jaw muscles contract and tighten up as you’re waiting for the pain to subside. When you’re in pain, don’t your friends often tell you, “Relax. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be OK.”
The same principles hold true if you have TMJ and braces. A proactive way to defeat pain before it arrives is to meditate. Stress of any kind creates tension. What better way to correct this than to find a quiet space, clear your head, and slowly take a big deep breath over and over. As you take deep breaths, you may notice that the increase in oxygen – combined with your newfound peaceful state of mind – will greatly decrease the strain on your jaw.
If you have TMJ and braces, mediation and breathing exercises are just one of many quick and easy home remedies you can do. Just five minutes each day, around two to three times per day, is all you’ll need to attain relief right away.
