It really is hot out there! With the summer weather, you might find yourself thinking of creative ways to stay cool. Have you ever used a cold pack to help cool you down on a hot summer day? I have, too. However, those cold packs can also be used to help you find relief from your TMD pain! So, you help cool yourself down while also finding relief from pain–that’s quite the deal!
The Use of Hot and Cold Packs for Relief
For many TMD sufferers, symptoms experienced can be difficult to manage. When you suffer from jaw pain, it is important to understand the risks faced and how you can manage pain using some home remedies. So, are hot and cold packs effective in providing relief from pain?
The answer is yes. While hot and cold packs do not treat symptoms of TMD, they will work to help alleviate the aches and pains you might be experiencing. Using hot and cold packs should be rotated every 20 minutes to ensure the best accuracy and pain relief.
Use a cold pack to the side of the lower jaw (near the TMJ) for 10-20 minutes. Then, after the cold pack is used, it is important to perform recommended stretches and/or exercises to help in the process and keep the TMJ from remaining stiff. After stretching, apply a hot pack or warm towel to the joint. This routine should be repeated a few times each day to help alleviate some of the pain and stiffness of the TMJ.
Oral Appliances for Long-term Care
For a long-term solution, however, it is important to remember that hot and cold packs should not be the only form of treatment you seek. With the availability of oral appliance therapy, we can help to treat your TMD symptoms. Through oral appliance therapy, complex conditions can be successfully managed and treated longer than just temporarily like with hot and cold packs.
Contact Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for more information on TMD and oral appliance therapy. With proper treatment of your pain, you’ll only be using those cold packs to stay cool in the summer.