4 Ways To Reduce Jaw Pain

Ear pain Incoming teeth in children Unpleasant emotions (stress, frustration, anger, anxiety) Certain personality types (hyper-competitive, hyper-aggressive) A compulsive habit, often used to focus or cope with stressful situations Misaligned upper and lower teeth (called a malocclusion) Sleep-related complications, including sleep apnea Complications caused by certain degenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Use a mouth guard. This is especially useful if you experience bruxism at night. Wearing a mouth guard designed to prevent bruxism can help keep your upper and lower teeth separated and reduce the pain and damage caused by grinding. [4] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020. Correct your tooth alignment. In extreme cases of bruxism, your doctor may recommend wearing braces to realign your upper and lower rows of teeth, or having oral surgery to reshape the contours of your teeth. Have regular dental exams. Allowing your dentist to monitor and treat your teeth-grinding habits can help reduce the frequency of bruxism and reduce jaw pain.

Try stress-management exercises like meditation or rigorous exercise. Try therapy to address issues like anxiety, anger, or stress. In extreme cases, medication may be recommended. Medication is not the preferred treatment for bruxism, but certain prescriptions, such as muscle relaxers, may help ease the tension and treat the pain.

Try to manage stress. Find what calms you down, whether it’s listening to relaxing music, having a vigorous workout, or a calming soak in the tub. Practice your stress-relieving activity every day, especially before bed. Avoid caffeine and other stimulants. Try drinking decaffeinated coffee or tea, or for best results, drink a relaxing herbal tea in the evening. Avoid tobacco and alcohol in the evening to promote a more restful night’s sleep with lower incidences of bruxism.

Prolonged throbbing pain in the tooth Sensitivity to temperature fluctuations, such as hot or cold food or beverages Pain during chewing, eating, or drinking Swelling of the face on the side of the abscess Swollen or inflamed lymph nodes around the jaw

Draining the abscess may be possible. Your dentist may be able to drain the pus out at the site of the infection, using sterilized tools in a controlled medical setting. Again, do not attempt to perform any of these procedures at home. Having a root canal might be the best option. A root canal involves surgically removing the diseased tissue in your gums and draining the abscess. This allows your dentist to treat the infection while still managing to save your tooth. Your dentist may recommend extracting the infected tooth. This is usually done if the infection has rendered the tooth unsalvageable. After extracting the tooth, your dentist will then drain the abscess to treat the infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth or to your jaw. These may be prescribed in conjunction with other treatments. [8] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020. It’s important to practice good dental hygiene to prevent future abscesses. This includes flossing every day, brushing your teeth twice daily, limiting sugary snacks, and going in for regular dental checkups.

Mix one teaspoon of salt into an eight-ounce glass of warm water. Use this rinse after every meal and before bed to help reduce inflammation and prevent infection.

Use pain relievers. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be taken to reduce inflammation and manage pain. Take only the recommended dosage listed on the label, as taking too much of a pain reliever may cause liver damage and other health problems. [9] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor. org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source Use a cold compress. Apply a cold compress wrapped in cloth to the affected side of your face for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, to manage the pain and inflammation in the jaw and mouth. Do not use a hot compress with an abscessed tooth, as heat may allow the infection to spread.

TMJ occurs in most cause of jaw pain. [11] X Expert Source Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MSBoard Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.

The diagnosis of headache, such as cluster headache, migraine, temporal arteritis, and stroke, must be ruled out before a TMJ diagnosis, especially if you are having headache symptoms.

Many doctors recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the symptoms of traumatic TMJ arthritis. Try sticking to a soft food diet to avoid unnecessary jaw movement. Use a warm compress. Apply the compress for 20 minutes, then remove the compress and exercising the jaw by moving it open and shut, then side to side. Try repeating this treatment three to five times daily, as needed. [13] X Research source Try wearing a bite guard. This may give some patients relief from pain or discomfort.

Wear a mouth guard or bite plate. These can be worn during the day or overnight to help reduce pain and grating in patients with osteoarthritic TMJ pain. [14] X Research source Try applying a warm compress for 20 minutes, then exercising the jaw. Move the jaw open and closed, then move the lower jaw from side to side. [15] X Research source Stick to soft foods. Avoid anything hard or crunchy. [16] X Research source Try an over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce pain and inflammation during particularly painful periods. [17] X Research source

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Jaw exercises to maintain range of motion when pain is at a minimum A cold compress may be applied to reduce pain and inflammation. Apply the cold compress to the affected side of the jaw for 20 minutes on, followed by 20 minutes off. In severe cases, some doctors may recommend surgery to prevent rheumatoid arthritis from limiting jaw function. [18] X Research source Surgery is usually considered a last option when all other alternatives have been exhausted, due to the risk of complications associated with surgery.

Pain relievers, both over-the-counter and prescription-strength, can help manage the pain associated with TMJ arthritis. Sedatives may be recommended by your doctor to help you sleep at night, if TMJ pain is keeping you awake. Your doctor may recommend supervised cortisone injections to treat pain and inflammation. [20] X Research source

Run a towel or wash cloth under warm-to-hot tap water. Wring out excess water. Once the towel is at a comfortable temperature that will not burn the skin, apply it to the affected area of your jaw. Hold the hot compress on for about five to ten minutes, and repeat several times each day. If a hot compress does not work, use a cold compress or an ice pack. Ice packs should be used for about 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off. [24] X Trustworthy Source Go Ask Alice Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University Go to source Make sure you wrap the cold compress in a t-shirt or other thin fabric so the cold doesn’t damage your skin. You may also want to try alternating hot and cold compresses to maximize the benefits of each. Use a hot compress for five minutes, then a cold compress for five minutes.