Top 5 Tips For Jaw Pain and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Jaw pain is a common condition that affects many people at some point in their lives. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, about 10 million Americans experience jaw pain and dysfunction, which is also known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This represents approximately 3.6% of the US population. However, some studies suggest that the prevalence of TMD may be higher, with estimates ranging from 5% to 12% of the population.
I would argue that jaw pain is on the rise due to increased sedentary work at a computer and high reported levels of stress among our society.
Today I am going to talk about 5 Tips For Jaw Pain and how Physical Therapy can help!
Manage Your Stress
Stress management is crucial to all injuries and pain conditions, especially those in the head and neck. Clenching and holding tension in the head, neck and shoulders is definitely worsened by high stress times, so it is essential to manage stress in order to heal these areas.Try a Bite Guard
You should always consult with your dentist and make sure to rule out infections or tooth problems that could be causing jaw pain. They may also be able to provide a bite guard to reduce the effects of clenching and protect your teeth. This typically takes place over a few sessions, where they take a custom mold of your teeth on the top and bottom and send it off to be fabricated for you. Then they can make sure it fits well without pain before you take it home and wear it nightly.
Reduce Gum Chewing + Tough Foods
Try to reduce chewing gum as well as really tough foods or candies until your pain is managed and jaw function is restored. This will allow your jaw to rest and ideally lead to reduced inflammation and pain in the short term.
Address Neck Tension
TMD is highly correlated to neck disorders. It is important to also work on relieving neck tension and restoring proper function of the neck and shoulders as it relates to the jaw!
Work on Posture
Posture is especially important for those who have jaw pain. If you are someone who sits at a desk for work, try to ensure that your workstation is set up properly and you aren’t in positions that contribute to neck and jaw tension.
So, how can PT help with jaw pain?! Physical Therapy sessions for jaw pain typically include a full assessment of the jaw, head and neck and some examples of treatment include dry needling to facial, jaw and neck points, strengthening the shoulders, upper back and neck, manual therapy, and guided home programs to maintain and progress to a high level of fitness.
If you think you may have jaw and/or neck issues, sign up for a FREE phone consult to see how our Physical Therapists can help you meet your goals!