Written By Maggie Bloom / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ for short causes some pretty excruciating pain when there is any movement of the jaw. The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull.

Someone that might suffer from TMJ will likely have migraine headaches, ringing in the ear, and dizziness. There are several ways to treat the pain that comes along with TMJ and it is imperative that you do all that you can to alleviate it so that you can go on about your normal activities.

1. Cut Out Bad Habits

There are several habits that you will need to kick out when you notice TMJ pain. The first is smoking, and the next is chewing gum. Some people live under the misconception that chewing gum is actually good for TMJ and will stop the pain which is not necessarily true. While chewing gum may temporarily ease the pain, it will not stop the problem altogether.

Chewing gum while having TMJ is similar to running with a sprained ankle. Smoking causes inflammation in the body and can cause your pain to be worse. Another bad habit you will need to get out of is teeth grinding. You may not be able to tell that you are grinding your teeth because you may be doing it in your sleep.

To see if you are grinding your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist. They can see if it appears that you are grinding your teeth, and they can recommend guards. The more bad habits that you cut out, the better your jaw will feel.

2. Being Careful Of What You Eat

With this disorder, one of the first things you might ask yourself is what might I be eating that is triggering this pain. If your jaw has been hurting for a week or more, try to eat something softer and see if that helps. Avoid food that is hard - apples or anything that is chewy.

You should also consider eating an anti-inflammatory diet. In your diet, you should add foods that are anti-inflammatory like broccoli, turmeric, ginger, and fish. These foods can help to lower the inflammation in your body, which can help to reduce your pain.

Foods that are full of fat and sugar can increase inflammation in your body. This may lead to your TMJ flaring up. There are diet books out there that are geared towards an anti-inflammatory diet that will help you to know what you should and should not be eating. If making these changes doesn’t help ease the pain slightly, you should consider looking into professional TMJ treatment in Raleigh, NC.

3. Visit Your Dentist

Changing your bad habits and improving your eating habits is great, but if you deal with constant TMJ pain, you will need to visit your dentist. Dentists can help you to figure out solutions for your TMJ pain. They may have drug-free things like mouth splints that will help your jaw to heal.

They can also make recommendations on jaw exercises that may help. When you go to your dentist appointment, they will check your teeth and jaw to ensure that there is not an infection or misaligned teeth that may be causing your problem.

If you do not have a local dentist, you can ask friends and family for recommendations. Be sure to call the office to see whether or not they treat issues with TMJ. If they do not treat this issue, they will be able to recommend a specialist in the area that does.

While there is no cure at this time for TMJ pain, there are various treatment options that can help to minimize any difficulties. Changing your lifestyle once you know you have TMJ is very imperative. The more that you do, the less pain you will have. If you suffer from TMJ or think that you might, make sure you try cutting out bad habits, eating healthy foods, and seeing your dentist on a regular basis.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Maggie Bloom graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in communication and writing. In her spare time, she loves to dance, read, and bake. She also enjoys traveling and scouting out new brunch locations.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com. 

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