Dental Helpful - Student Health Center

Rest the muscles and joints. This will allow healing.
Rest includes:
a) A soft food diet- avoid crunchy and chewy foods like hard nuts, chips, carrots and hard bread.
b) Avoid chewing gum.
c) No clenching or tensing- learn to keep "teeth apart, face and jaw relaxed".
Avoid opening too wide. This protects the joints and prevents them from locking open.
a) Yawn against pressure.
b) Eat small bites.
c) Avoid general anesthesia when possible.
d) Avoid long dental appointments, and rest frequently during all dental appointments.
Apply cold compresses for 5-10 minutes for severe pain from new injuries (less than 72 hours) and reinjury.
Apply moist heat for 20 minutes for mild to moderate pain to increase circulation and muscle relaxation. This promotes healing.
Use heat and ice for quick relief from muscle pain. Apply heat for 5 seconds then ice for 5 seconds and repeat 4-5 times.
Massage the jaw and temple muscles. This stimulates circulation, relaxes muscles and decreases soreness.
Accupressure: Massage the Hoku point found between the thumb and the forefinger. This decreases jaw pain and headaches.
Maintain good posture: Avoid a forward head posture which may increase jaw and neck muscle activity and soreness.
Telephone Use: Do not cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder. This irritates jaw and neck muscles.
Sleeping position: Sleep on your side with a pillow support between the neck and shoulders and soft support along the face and jaw or sleep on your back with a neck curve support.
Exercise 20-30 minutes at a time 3-4 times a week. Choose low impact type exercises to minimize pressure on the joints.
Yoga and Meditation are excellent methods to reduce stress.
Over-the-counter Medications are helpful for pain and inflammation. Take 2 aspirin or ibuprofen 4 times daily (if not allergic), according to the directions.
An athletic mouthguard can provide temporary pain relief until you consult your dentist.
Good nutrition promotes joint and muscle healing.

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