7 Ways You Can Relieve Jaw Pain

by Sudarsan
Relieve-Jaw-Pain

Waking up with jaw pain is not ideal. Pain in the mouth area leads to great discomfort. Eating becomes a challenge and sleep isn’t comfortable. When you experience pain near your teeth, it’s important to find out the cause.

Common causes of jaw pain include:

  • Injury
  • Nighttime teeth grinding
  • Misaligned teeth
  • Heart attack

As you work to find out the cause of your discomfort, we offer seven ways you can relieve jaw pain in the meantime.

1. Sleep Enough Daily

The benefits of sleep are many. Sometimes jaw pain is a result of not enough rest.

Humans require sleep to recharge. It rests the brain, body, and heart. If you don’t recharge your body enough, it reacts. Some people’s grogginess leads them to clench their jaws. Others start grinding their teeth.

In some cases, people don’t sleep enough because they experience discomfort. If you grind your teeth while sleeping, it can wake you up. Thus, your sleep becomes interrupted. 

Plus, you are likely to develop additional symptoms such as morning headaches, crankiness, and anxiety.

If you make enough time to sleep but can’t, speak with your dentist. If you don’t sleep at least seven hours a night, it’s time to change your bedtime routine.

2. Change Your Diet

When you experience pain in the jaw area, estimate how long you have felt it. If you have spent the last few days consuming crunchy foods, your mouth feels it. 

Change your diet for a week and check back in with yourself. If the discomfort subsides, you found the source. 

Test it by eating yogurt, eggs, plenty of soft fruits, quinoa, and boiled vegetables. Foods that often cause mouth discomfort include raw vegetables, chewy meat, crunchy bread, and nuts.

The effort needed to chew does a number on your mouth, especially with age. 

3. Apply Heat and Cold Packs

If the discomfort is temporary, apply heat and cold packs. Applying a cold pack to the area for 15 minutes numbs it. Follow the cold by applying heat for 15 minutes. 

Repeat the process throughout the day as necessary. It’s OK to repeat it several times.

The heat helps blood rush to the area experiencing pain. Some believe that when blood flows to an injured part of the body, it helps the pain heal faster. Blood has healing properties that some medical professionals aim to maximize.

To relieve pain near your mouth, use this technique, especially in a pinch. SImply numbing it can help you fall asleep so you can rest.

4. Exercise to Relax

Jaw clenching leads to discomfort. Thus, your goal is to understand why you continue to clench.

Many times people don’t realize that they grind their teeth while sleeping. They also don’t realize that they clench their jaws during the daytime. 

Life events can lead to anxiety, stress, and despair. When life becomes tough to handle, take up meditation, yoga, or long-distance walking. Coping with life’s curveballs allows your body to remain healthy.

Some experiences are difficult, but maintaining your health is important too.

5. Exercise to Relieve the Pain

If it turns out that you suffer from the temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJ, exercises that help you relieve the pain exist.

Recommended TMJ exercises include:

  • Chin tucks
  • Relaxed jaw
  • Goldfish with partial and full opening

To execute the goldfish with a partial opening, place your tongue on your mouth’s roof. Place your finger on your TMJ near your ear. Place your other hand’s pointer finger on your chin. Lower your jaw halfway. Then close your mouth. Your goal is to feel resistance but not pain.

Repeat the move six times, which equals one set. Repeat the set six times daily.

6. See Your Dentist

When the discomfort continues, it’s time to see your dentist. A dentist has the knowledge, experience, and ability to diagnose your symptoms. Plus, they can take action.  

A dentist listens for sounds when you open and close your mouth. They take a look at your mouth’s range of motion and pinpoint where the pain takes place. 

Dentists use a visual exam and X-rays to diagnose the problem. Sometimes they will recommend a CT scan or MRI.

To prepare for the visit, JS Dental Lab provides a guide on why you may wake up with jaw pain.

7. Take Medication

If you prefer a holistic approach, work with the above suggestions. However, if you desire immediate relief for an extended period, make a doctor’s appointment. 

A medical professional has the authority to prescribe an anti-inflammatory steroid. Keep in mind that steroids have side effects including addiction. 

Your dentist also has the authority to prescribe medication if they deem it necessary.

Conclusion

The good news is that it’s possible to overcome jaw pain. Once you understand why you’re experiencing it, it’s possible to obtain a solution. Try some at-home remedies. However, if it persists, see your dentist or doctor.

You may also like