TMJ Home Remedies

We use our jaw for almost everything! You need to be able to talk, chew, yawn, and laugh with comfort and ease. Total relaxation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles is difficult for patients with TMJ pain. Holding the jaw muscles and joints in a relaxed position is, however, very manageable with practice. Regular attempts to relax the jaw muscles, and avoidance of activities that would overwork the area, will be helpful to reduce the pain and prevent additional strain to the area.

Here are some tips and tricks to reducing your TMJ pain and symptoms:

1. Apply moist heat for 20 min 2-4 times each day to the painful area. You can microwave a wet towel for 1-2 minutes or until the towel is warm or you can wrap the moist towel around a hot water bottle to keep it warm longer. You can also try applying ice wrapped in a thin washcloth for 10 minutes 2-4 times per day. Only apply ice until you first feel some numbness. Do not ice for more than 15 minutes. Heat or ice can reduce joint or muscle pain and relax the muscles.

2. Eat softer food, avoid hard foods like french bread, bagels, and chips. Avoid very chewy foods, such as steak and candy. Cut fruit and steamed vegetables into small pieces and chew with your back teeth rather than biting with your front teeth. Please do not chew gum.

3. Your new mantra is: Tongue up and teeth apart. Your teeth should never touch (except lightly for swallowing). We suggest you closely monitor your jaw position during the day, while you're awake, so that you maintain your jaw in a relaxed,comfortable position. This involves placing the tongue lightly on the top of your mouth behind your upper teeth, allowing the teeth to come apart and relaxing the jaw muscles.

4. Avoid caffeine. We know it hurts to put that cup of coffee down, but your TMJ probably hurts more! Caffeine is a "muscle contractor"drug and can make your muscles tighter. Caffeine you should avoid includes coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate. Decaffeinated coffee has half as much caffeine as regular, so try switching until you can kick the habit. 

5. Chew your food on both sides at the same time to reduce strain on one side.

6. Avoid clenching your teeth, grinding your teeth (bruxism), teeth touching or resting teeth together, biting cheeks, tongue or lip, biting pens, pencils, or other objects, gum chewing, tongue pushing against the teeth, jaw tensing or other habits.

7. Avoid resting your jaw on your hand.

8. Try avoid opening your mouth for extended period of times, prolonged yawning and dental treatments, until the pain is reduced.

9. Avoid sleeping on your stomach since this puts adverse forces on the jaw and neck muscles.

10. Use anti-inflammatory and pain medications like Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and Asprin (without caffeine) to reduce joint and muscle pain.

11. Try yoga, meditation, or even acupuncture to reduce stress. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and unwind. Just be careful when you are working out. Try not to grind your teeth, clench your jaw, and avoid sports/movement that could allow you to be hit in the face.

If these tips and tricks do not help in reducing TMJ/Jaw pain and symptoms then we recommend being treated by a TMJ specialist. Call our office at (310)276-5300 or call toll free (866)DOC-4TMJ and schedule your consultation. 

For more information about TMJ symptoms and jaw pain, visit www.thetmjdoctor.com, to learn more about Dr. Farnad, our office, and how we can help improve your life and reduce your TMJ pain. 

BOTOX for TMJ?

Many of our patients suffer from tremendous TMJ pain and we want to offer them minimally invasive solutions that really work. Botox has been made famous for preventing and minimizing wrinkles. However, one of its greatest and lesser known attributes is that it is an effective treatment for TMJ.

First, you need to be properly assessed for TMJ by a doctor that truly understands jaw mobility and TMJ dysfunction.  Not only do you want to see someone with expertise in TMJ but in using Botox for treating TMJ specifically.

Botox treatment for TMJ takes about 10-20 minutes, depending on how much the patient needs for their individual symptoms. The number of treatments depends on how each patient reacts to the Botox, which lasts about 3-4 months. Many people feel better after 3 treatments because the muscle gets smaller and allows the patient to break habits, such as grinding and repetitive clenching. Often times, Botox is an excellent way to manage painful flair ups and chronic pain without having a surgical procedure.

Much like any other medical procedure, Botox does have risks and benefits. However, it is very safe and the most common side effects are temporary bruising, numbness, slight swelling, and redness. Any potential risks and side effects are minimal and do not last very long.

To see if Botox is the right type of treatment for your TMJ or jaw pain, contact our office for a complimentary TMJ consulation. Dr. Farnad has a holistic approach to treating TMJ. He will review your entire medical health history, discuss your current sleeping habits, stress levels, and overall health. After proper diagnosis, he will determine how many units of Botox will effectively treat your TMJ and jaw pain. Not only will Dr. Farnad call you the evening of your procedure to check in on you, but he will want to see you one to two weeks afterwards to attentively follow your treatment, ensuring the best results and care.

To schedule your consultation, call our office at (310)276-5300.

This video is a wonderful demonstration of what Botox can do to help your TMJ symptoms:

To schedule a consultation call us at (310)276-5300 or toll free (855)276-5300

421 N. Rodeo Dr. Ste T8

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.thetmjdoctor.com

www.bhcomfs.com

Welcome to The TMJ Doctor's Blog!

We understand how frustrating TMJ can be for our patients. Sometimes, it's not only physical aspect but the emotional component of TMJ/TMD that makes it a particular difficult disorder. Our hope is to provide our patient's with a place to discuss their symptoms while learning new and relevant information about their TMJ and jaw pain. Our mission is to help our patients, and others suffering from TMJ, live a more pain free, stress free, and healthful life. 

Thank you for checking out our blog, we would love to hear your thoughts along the way! 

To schedule a consultation call us at (310)276-5300 or toll free (855)276-5300

421 N. Rodeo Dr. Ste T8

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.thetmjdoctor.com

www.bhcomfs.com