Ouch! If you suffer from jaw pain or clicking, it can be extremely uncomfortable. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are complex musculoskeletal health complications that impact neurological pain in the face. And for many sufferers, symptoms experienced can be difficult to manage.

If you suffer from jaw pain, it is important to seek help from your dentist to become familiar with the risks faced and how to manage the pain with some home remedies. When wondering, “What else can I do to find relief?” We have some options for you that can help improve your pain and provide relief.

Hot and cold packs

While hot and cold packs do not treat TMD, they do work to help alleviate any aches and pains you might be experiencing. When using hot and cold packs, remember to rotate every 20 minutes to ensure the best accuracy and pain relief. A cold pack can be used on the side of the lower jaw near the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) for 10-20 minutes.

Next, after the cold pack is used, perform recommended stretches and/or exercises to help in the process. This can also help keep the TMJ from remaining stiff. Once the cold pack has been applied and stretches completed, use a hot pack or warm towel on the joint. Do this for 10-20 minutes. This routine of cold-hot-cold-hot should be repeated a few times each day to help alleviate some of the pain and stiffness of the TMJ.

Oral appliance for long-term treatment

Hot and cold packs can help to alleviate pain and stiffness periodically, but it is important to remember that this should not be the only form of treatment you undergo. We offer oral appliance therapy to improve your TMD symptoms. Through oral appliances, complex conditions can be successfully managed and treated.

Contact Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia today to learn more about how you can find relief from your TMD pain.