Natural Remedies for TMJ Flare-Ups

Many people suffer from TMJ pain due to issues like teeth clenching, excessive gum chewing, nail biting, stress, fibromyalgia, and injuries. Thankfully, there are a variety of medications and therapies available to treat TMJ issues, and Dr. Katie Orr’s team excels at holistic TMJ treatments.

But sometimes, you may have a flare-up that might not necessitate a trip to the dentist, or you simply don’t have time with your busy schedule. So, what can you do? That’s where natural remedies for TMJ can come into play to help give you relief and let you get on with your day.

Defining TMJ and TMD

Strictly speaking, “TMJ” refers to the temporomandibular joints which connect your lower jaw to the sides of your skull. It is in these hinge-like areas where temporomandibular disorders, or “TMDs” originate, causing pain in patients. Though TMD is the more official name for problems in this area, TMJ is still often used colloquially.

Natural Treatments for TMJ Pain

If you’re experiencing a TMJ flare-up and need some viable ways to get relief, here are some steps to take:

• Do exercises and stretches – Jaw pain can often be the result of tightness of the surrounding muscles, so relieving the pressure via stretches and exercises can help you to build up stamina and ease pain. Many examples are available online, and you could also talk with our dental care team about stretch options. Practicing good posture can also help long-term.
• De-stress – Stress can be one of the major contributors to jaw issues because it often causes people to clench. Therefore, one simple and natural TMJ treatment is to de-stress in the ways that work best for you. You could try meditating, breathing exercises, using guided imagery, massage therapy, or even yoga sessions. Any of these can lead to reduced stress levels, and, in turn, reduced TMJ problems.
• Sleep and exercise – While these natural remedies for TMJ won’t help you in moments of pain necessarily, their benefits can pay dividends if you stick to healthy habits. Quality sleep and exercise can reduce inflammation, minimize stress, and generally lead to less painful days.
• Watch what you eat – When you’re having jaw pain, excessive chewing can be a real burden, so you will want to reduce this as much as possible. Avoid gum and hard and chewy foods and opt for softer foods and liquids. Some good places to start include smoothies, soups and stews, soft fruits, cooked vegetables, and soft proteins. You’ll also want to avoid inflammatory foods with a lot of fats and sugars as these can contribute to your pain.
• Try supplements – Another worthwhile natural TMJ treatment is using supplements that can both reduce stress and boost your body’s immune system responses. Some options include calcium, vitamin B, vitamin C, magnesium, glucosamine, and more.
• Use heat and cold – During a TMJ flare-up, applying heat or cold to the area can help to bring about relief. Cold is usually recommended for new injuries as inflammation spreads, while heat works well for ongoing injuries to reduce joint stiffness and muscle spasms. Your body and specific pain responses may respond better to option one over the other, however, so be sure to experiment.

If the above natural treatments for TMJ don’t provide enough relief, you’ll certainly want to speak with your dental team about other options. These can include medications, injections, or simply being fitted with a dental guard to prevent clenching in the night. Our team can assess your TMJ issues and develop a care plan that will get you good as new.

Beyond Holistic TMJ Treatments

As a holistic dentist, Dr. Katie Orr is dedicated to providing safe, biologically compatible, and minimally invasive treatments to help promote a patient’s overall health and well-being.

Some of our practice’s specialties include:

Need TMJ Relief in Indiana? Contact Our Team!

If you have TMJ and are looking for premium dental care, our team is ready to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!