5 Best Practices to Help Manage Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

The facial movements that make your daily activities possible must be painless, right? We don’t want pain while smiling, laughing, chewing, or talking. But if you have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), then these simple movements become difficult, and it poses a lot of pain to your jaw bone. 

If you are one of those who are facing similar problems, then this article is for you. In this article, we will discuss some of the essential practices that can save you from the TMJ problems in Los Gatos. If you want a specialist doctor treating TMJ disorder in Los Gatos, then you can consult any of the expert doctors who can provide a long-lasting solution to your problems. 

What are the 5 Best Practices to Help Manage Temporomandibular Joint Disorders? 

  • Maintain the resting position of your jaw: You must maintain the resting position of your jaw by minimizing jaw movements such as chewing, yelling, singing, and yawning. It will help you do your best with the muscles and relax them to relieve the pain. 
  • Correct the posture: You must sit, walk, and sleep in the correct posture. Sitting in an unideal position can make you feel more pain in your jaw. While working, you must choose a chair with back support and also ensure you take frequent breaks to improve your posture. You have to remember this even while driving, doing any leisure activity, watching TV, or reading a book. 
  • Get a good night’s sleep: Sleep is very essential for many aspects of health. Similarly, it is also very critical to minimize TMJ pain. You must sleep on your back and use pillows to support your neck. You should also avoid sleeping on your stomach or the sides; it will not be in a good position for your jaw. 
  • Use a hot or cold compress: You must use a hot or cold compress to reduce the pain. A hot compress helps increase blood flow and relax the jaw muscles. Similarly, a cold compress will also help in relaxing the muscles. You can use it for 15-20 minutes, which is enough time to relax your muscles. 
  • Exercise your jaw: There are jaw exercises that help increase the mobility of your joints and relax the muscles. So, with the recommendation of your doctor, you can do some stretching exercises, relaxation exercises, and strengthening exercises. 

So, these methods will help you in maintaining your jaw health and relieve you from its associated pain.