Are you struggling with jaw pain from TMJ disorder or teeth grinding? Take it from someone who’s been there it can be so discouraging!
TMJ pain can cause muscle spasms, jaw pain, and neck pain… If you have temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ disorder you know these common symptoms all too well.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. This is not medical advice. I am not a doctor. All opinions are my own.
It may feel like nothing seems to help but over time I’ve learned the best ways and home remedies to help relieve pain in the jaw joint.
The first step is to figure out what is triggering your TMJ and get rid of that!
It could be stress, a bad pillow, or many other issues. Once you figure that out you can pick which natural remedies will work best for you.
1) Epsom Salts Bath
You can use Epsom salts to relieve pain by adding them to your bath or soaking your feet in water with Epsom salts. It helps with joint pain because it has magnesium.
Magnesium helps to soothe the muscles and calm the body. This home remedy will help with the overall inflammation in your body and will help with your jaw pain.
2) Mouth Tape
Every time I tell people about mouth-taping I feel like a crazy person but I promise it works!
All you have to do is take a piece of regular medical tape or special mouth tape and tape your mouth shut before you go to sleep. The idea is that it will limit the range of motion in your jaw at night.
You won’t be able to move your jaw as much and won’t be able to clench which can cause pain.
Mouth taping is also great for your overall health because it makes you breathe through your nose which boosts your immune system and reduces the risk of cavities.
3) Cold Compresses
Putting an ice pack or cold packs on your jaw muscles can give you immediate relief from some of your muscle tension.
It helps numb the painful area and lower inflammation. Try implementing cold therapy anytime you feel swelling.
4) Bite Guard
Another common remedy used is a mouth guard. This provides a physical barrier between your top teeth and lower teeth so you can’t clench them together.
There are many great options online or you can see a dentist and get a mouth guard that is custom fit for your mouth. I used this brand for a long time and found that when I wore it my jaw pain was much less when I woke up in the morning!
5) Change Your Pillow
If you suffer from sleep-related issues like jaw clenching or sleep bruxism getting a better pillow is super important.
Switching to a pillow with an ergonomic design will help relieve any pain in your jaw due to grinding or clenching at night.
6) Heat Therapy
You can use a heating pad or warm compress on your temporomandibular joint (also known as TMJ) and the rest of your jaw to encourage blood circulation to the area.
This can help decrease the feeling of a sore jaw that comes from TMJ and teeth grinding.
7) Stress Reduction
Jaw pain is often associated with stress. You should try to reduce your stress level throughout your day.
Making simple changes throughout your day such as taking up a stress-relieving hobby can really add up and help relieve your jaw pain.
8) Soft Diet
Chewing hard foods or chewy foods overextends your jaw and irritates TMJ dysfunction. Therefore, you should avoid sticky foods like peanut butter and hard foods if you experience jaw muscle pain.
Try implementing soft foods into your diet and avoid extreme jaw movements associated with chewing.
9) Change Your Night Routine
Much of the jaw pain people experience comes from clenching or grinding at night. Changing your night routine to add relaxing rituals can help calm the body and reduce pain.
This will allow for better sleep quality, therefore, reducing grinding or clenching. Try running a warm bath with a bath bomb and avoiding screen time an hour before bed.
10) Jaw Exercises
Tight jaw muscles or stressed-out jaw muscles can cause jaw pain. Jaw exercises can help reduce pain.
You can also massage your jaw in a circular motion when you feel a TMJ flare-up.
11) Magnesium
I take magnesium every day and it has been an addition to my life I will never go without it!
Magnesium is a super important mineral that many of us are lacking in our diet since our soils have become so depleted. It helps calm the body, helps with digestion, and also combats pain which makes it great for jaw pain.
I take magnesium glycinate every night before bed and use a magnesium spray for aches and pains.
You can also use the spray as a deodorant!
12) Essential Oil
Essential oils have long been used for their calming effects and to help with stress. One of the best relaxation techniques for jaw pain is to apply diluted essential oils directly to your jaw or diffuse them in your bedroom at night using a DIY diffuser pad.
This will help to destress your body and relieve your tension. Try the best essential oils for TMJ such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus to reduce your stress.
13) Natural Muscle Relaxants
Instead of going straight to over-the-counter pain relievers, you can try using natural muscle relaxants such as herbal tea. Herbal tea is great for relaxing the body and the muscles in the jaw.
You can try herbal teas such as chamomile tea before you go to bed. It will help relax your muscles and give you better sleep and less jaw pain.
Wrapping Up
Jaw pain can be very frustrating but with these home remedies, you should be able to find some long-term relief.
Using these home remedies will help reduce TMJ symptoms but always remember to see a doctor or physical therapist if you have severe pain. They will be able to find the underlying cause of your TMJ issues and create a treatment plan for pain relief.
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