If you have temporomandibular joint disorder and suffer from TMJ jaw pain, no matter how great or how little the discomfort, then you know how irritating it is. Maybe you’ve gone to your doctor on numerous occasions. Perhaps you’ve purchased those huge double-packs of Advil from Costco. Either way, now might be a good time to examine a few natural and safe home remedies you can do to alleviate your TMJ jaw pain – not to mention its much more cost-effective.
A great way to combat TMJ jaw pain is through various treatment options for the disorder, such as massaging, stretching, and strengthening the jaw. Why don’t we examine a few useful tips for each of these three methods? This way you can save that Advil for when you really need it – like when your in-laws come to town.
Massaging
- Take your index finger on your right hand and place the knuckle exactly on the hinge of your jaw. Trace the path up your cheekbone and apply slight pressure to those muscles. Make sure to hold on each tight spot for about 5-10 seconds. Then repeat on the other side of your jaw with your left hand.
- Bring your right pointer and middle finger together and place them just below your cheekbone near your right ear. You’ll probably feel a slight indentation between the bottom of the cheekbone and the uppermost part of your jaw. Hold slight pressure to this area for about 5-10 seconds before combing those same muscles in a downward direction following your jaw line.
Stretching
- Here’s an easy but effective stretch to help eliminate your TMJ jaw pain. Simply open your mouth and relax your jaw. Tilt your head back and aim your forehead toward the sky. Take in a deep breath and slowly exhale. Return your head to the starting position and repeat. Breath in. Breath out. You probably feel better already, don’t'cha?
Strengthening
- Now that you’ve loosened up your jaw and have properly stretched, let’s focus on strengthening the area to help rid you of frustrating TMJ jaw pain. Tightly seal together your lips and separate your teeth just slightly. Make an “Ommmmmm” sound and slowly move your jaw up and down as if you’re a cow chewing on grass. Silly as it may sound at first, this is a great way to strengthen your jaw muscles.
Basic massaging, stretching, and strengthening techniques are great exercises that you can do on a daily basis in your free time. This way you’ll have plenty of Advil the next time your relatives come banging on your front door for a surprise visit.
