It is best to dilute essential oils to a concentration of about 1 percent for use on the skin. That means using one drop of lavender or peppermint oil with 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, such as coconut oil. As far as where to apply essential oils for TMJ disorders, it depends on where your pain is coming from.
Here's how you do it:
- Locate the masseter muscles in your lower jaw.
- Massage this area by pressing gently with two or three fingers and moving in a circular motion.
- Continue until you find some relief.
- Experiment with different areas of the jaw and even try massaging your jaw with your entire hand.
A natural remedy for TMJ is peppermint essential oil. This oil is very potent, so it should be diluted with a pure carrier oil, like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil. Use one teaspoon of carrier oil for every one drop of peppermint oil. The peppermint works by relaxing the jaw and face muscles and easing the pain.
CBD oil can relieve the pain caused by TMD by easing muscle tension and reducing inflammation. The best benefit of CBD oil is its direct pain relief. By applying the oil directly to the sore areas, you can experience pain relief in just minutes. Some patients also choose to vaporize the oil during inhalation.
The best essential oils for teeth grinding include lavender, roman chamomile, ylang-ylang, juniper berry, and peppermint.
TMJ disorders occur when something goes wrong with your jaw joints and jaw muscles. Oftentimes, this happens because of a jaw injury, inflammation such as with arthritis, or overuse. TMJ disorders may cause mild to debilitating symptoms, such as: pain while chewing. pain in the ear, face, jaw, and neck.
Lifestyle and home remedies
- Avoid overuse of jaw muscles. Eat soft foods.
- Stretching and massage. Your doctor, dentist or physical therapist may show you how to do exercises that stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles and how to massage the muscles yourself.
- Heat or cold.
That said, the main causes of TMJ flare ups are stress, which can lead to jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) while you're asleep or awake; hormonal changes, such as those brought on by birth control or supplements; hard and chewy foods, which can strain the already stressed TMJ and includes foods such as apples,
Some of the worst foods for TMJ pain are:
- Gum and chewy or sticky candies.
- Bagels, crusty bread, and other chewy baked goods.
- Apples, carrots, and other hard fruits and vegetables.
- Chewy or tough meat.
- Hard nuts.
- Ice (put it in your drinks, use it in a cold compress for swelling, but don't bite into it!)
Laying on your side with a hand under your pillow can also exacerbate the symptoms of TMD. This damaging sleep position creates a misalignment for your head and neck, making TMJ pain very likely. The best sleep position for TMD is sleeping on your back in order to keep your head and neck properly aligned.
Our experimental results indicate that curcumin inhibits inflammation, oxidative stress, and the matrix degradation of TMJ inflammatory chondrocytes through the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, thereby exerting cartilage protective effects.
Minor TMJ discomfort will usually go away without treatment. However, anyone with the following TMJ symptoms should consider an evaluation to prevent or avoid future issues: Constant or repeated episodes of pain or tenderness at the TMJ or in and around the ear. Discomfort or pain while chewing.
Recovery TimeThe good news is that most TMJ symptoms will clear up in no more than three weeks typically. However, certain TMJ conditions, especially those brought about by arthritis or bruxism, can last months or years, depending on the severity of the underlying condition.
Chronic cluster, migraine, or tension headaches may be mistaken for TMJ disorder, especially since TMJ disorder itself can cause such headaches. Chronic sinus pain and sinus infections can also produce pain around the temples that can feel like TMJ disorder.
Although not life threatening, if TMJ disorder is left untreated, it can contribute to significant discomfort and tension. Chronic pain can even lead to the development of diseases like anxiety and depression.
Repeat small mouth-opening and mouth-closing movements several times as a warm up. Then, place your fingers on the top of your front four bottom teeth. Slowly pull down until you feel slight discomfort on the tight side of your jaw. Hold for 30 seconds, and then slowly release your jaw back to the staring position.
Ice helps reduce swelling and pain. Heat helps relax muscles, increasing blood flow. Use a gel pack or cold pack for severe pain. Apply for 10 to 20 minutes.
Calcium and magnesium.May help the jaw muscle relax, although there are no scientific studies using them for TMJ problems. Magnesium and calcium interact with several medications, herbs, and supplements. They can also affect your heart and blood pressure, so be sure to tell your doctor before you take them.
Vitamin C is often used in the fall and winter to help boost the immune system and help fight off colds and flus. However, it also produces collagen, which contributes to joint health. Similar to B vitamins, vitamin C can often decrease in times of stress and contribute to poor TMJ health.
Researchers in a 2015 study found that lavender essential oil can be an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory. When diluted lavender essential oil was applied topically during one test, it provided pain relief comparable to that of the prescription medication tramadol.
The recommended dose is 400mg to 420mg daily for men and 310mg to 320mg daily for women. It is, however, always important to check with your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.
The average pain complaint levels decreased significantly in an overall group average, and dramatically with some individuals. It was concluded that patients with fibromyalgia and concurrent temporomandibular joint problems may gain symptomatic improvement in their chronic symptoms by taking collagen hydrolysat.
Botox can help relax the muscles in your jaw
Botox for TMJ can be highly effective. One 2012 study found that Botox treatments significantly decreased pain and increased mouth movements for three months following the treatment. Another study found that symptoms improved in 90 percent of participants.Fortunately, for those suffering from TMJ, acupuncture is extremely helpful in relieving the inflammation, pain and tension commonly associated with the condition. Patients with acute pain can experience immediate relief in a few treatments, with more chronic conditions taking a series of treatments over several weeks.
