What You Can Do When You Have TMJ

October 25th, 2007

As a regular sports athlete, you always see to it that you get enough practice and training to get yourself in shape but this could be very impossible to do so when you have TMJ. When you have temporomandibular joint dysfunction, a dentist or doctor will recommend to you to temporarily stop your game until you can find some remedies for clenching jaw, which is by the way, on of the most common symptoms of TMJ. TMJ or jaw pain is caused opening the mouth too widely when yawning or laughing. Dentists can also diagnose it as a result of a tooth problem and jaw dislocation can be the worse cause especially during contact sports. Now, here’s what you can do. Sometimes it’s best to do nothing at all. Sometimes pain can go away on its own. Take more food that doesn’t require heavy chewing. If you chew, chew food evenly on both sides of the mouth at the same time or alternately. If you’re jaw is dislocated, get another person to help you set it right. He should hold the lower jaw firmly on both sides, with thumbs on lower back teeth and forefingers under the lower jaw.