Do you wake up each day with a sore jaw and have continuous pain and stiffness in this area all day long? If so, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Dentists often treat this condition with surgeries, mouth guards, or braces, but there are ways you can find relief from this pain on your own. Most of these methods involve exercises and massage therapy.
What Is TMJ?
TMJ is a common condition that stems from inflammation and problems with the joint found in your jaw. Pain Science states that there is a muscle in this area called the masseter muscle, and this muscle is used when you chew, open your mouth, and talk. The masseter muscle is also a trigger point in the body.
It's common for a person with TMJ to feel constant jaw pain, but it is also common to experience other types of pain, including:
- Ear pain
- Headaches
- Locked jaw
- Neck pain
TMJ pain is often the result of bruxism, teeth clenching, arthritis, and injuries to the jaw, but there are exercises you can do that might help you find relief from this pain.
Natural Remedies For TMJ Pain
The first thing to consider doing is completing exercises at home to help strengthen and loosen the muscles and joints in your jaw. The first exercise to try involves placing your fist under your jaw. As you do this, force your lower jaw down as you hold your fist tightly in place. This will create tension and pressure, which can strengthen your jaw muscles. Do this for 30 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, and then repeat three or four times each day.
Another thing you can do is massage your jaw muscles and joints. You can find the right spot by feeling the area on your face in front of your ears. As you place your hands there, open and close your mouth to help you find the right area. When you locate the right spot, you will feel a little pain, and you can begin massaging these areas on your face.
If this doesn't offer enough relief for your pain, you could consider getting a professional massage. A massage therapist, like Vanderloo Chiropractic, could work these areas of your body, as well as other related trigger points, and this could bring relief.
To learn more about TMJ and massage therapy, contact a clinic that specializes in this. You can find relief for this pain, but it may take some time and effort.
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