TMJ Disorder? Pain Relief Treatment Tips

Anyone who suffers from TMJ syndrome knows how excruciating the pain can be. It is also frustrating because the mouth is unable to open fully, thus making eating, talking and even yawning painful. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. TMJ pain occurs when this joint becomes inflamed.

Many people experience TMJ pain at some point in their lives. In many cases, it is due to excessive pressure to the jaw and will go away with rest. Some people are prone to outbursts. For anyone with TMJ symptoms, there are 5 main things you can do to treat it and get relief.

First of all there are TMJ exercises. While sitting in a high back chair, rest your head against the chair. Place the web of your hand (between your thumb and forefinger) Using your chin, gently press your head back and feel your lower jaw move back slightly. Let your mouth open slightly with the movement. Return to the starting position and repeat 5 times. Do this a few times each day.

Another exercise is to start with the same position as the first exercise. This time, lightly press your jaw against your hand and hold for 5 seconds. Return to the start and repeat a few times. Next, with a relaxed jaw, move your lower jaw a few times from side to side.

Improvement to your posture is the next approach you can use. Believe it or not, poor posture can have a negative effect on the TMJ. A body that is improperly aligned can actually suffer back, neck and shoulder pains as well as TMJ syndrome. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms hanging at your sides. Does one arm look longer than the other? Are your shoulders the same height? Does your head tilt slightly to one side?

Any of these seemingly minor maladjustments can create a problem. Make a conscious effort to straighten you back and keep your chin up. Your TMJ related pain may be reduced as your posture get better. Yoga is also a good way to improve posture.

Another thing that can irritate your TMJ is stress. You may have noticed that in stressful situations you tend to clench your teeth. This puts undue stress on your jaw and your TMJ. Whenever you feel stress coming on, try to be aware of the pressure exerted on your jaw and make a conscious decision to relax those muscles. Getting rid of stress in your life is the ideal solution. Stress management classes are available to help people cope with day to day anxieties.

Gum chewers and people who eat a lot of chewy or hard foods also tend to suffer from TMJ disorder. It is a good idea to stay away from foods that cause strain while chewing and to stop chewing gum if you are prone to sessions of this.

A final thing to consider is acupressure on your jaw. The whole body is connected and each body part has pressure points. One of the points that affect the jaw is between the thumb and index finger. Hold one hand in your other hand and press firmly in this area for one minute by using your other thumb. Another area to apply pressure is the jaw itself, where the upper and lower jaws meet at the earlobes. For about one minute pressure should be applied to this area.