TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – You or someone closest to you may have experienced jaw pain which makes it difficult to eat and drink. Symptoms of jaw pain tend to vary, ranging from jaw pain accompanied by pain in the face, the jaw feeling locked, the jaw clicking, difficulty moving the jaw, difficulty chewing and opening the mouth, burning sensation in the mouth and sensitive teeth.
The British Society for Occlusal Studies provides several tips so that you avoid jaw pain, including:
- Pay attention to food
When your jaw feels sensitive, don’t eat hard, chewy foods. Don’t chew gum, cut fruit or vegetables into small pieces before you eat them. Eat foods that are soft and soft, so that they don’t cause pain when chewing. Also consume supplements that contain calcium and magnesium.
- Chew Food on Both sides of the mouth
Chew food using your back teeth, not your front teeth. Do chew simultaneously on both sides of the mouth, or it can be alternated. This is to reduce tension in the mouth muscles on one side only.
- Avoid the habit of pressing the jaw
As much as possible avoid the habit of burdening the jaw muscles and jaw joints by avoiding: grinding your teeth, opening your mouth too wide, biting your inner cheeks, biting your lips, pushing your tongue against your teeth, biting objects (eg pens) and burdening your other jaw.
Read: 8 Causes of Jaw Pain, Caution Indications of Serious disease Like Autoimmune
- Set Sleep Position
Try to get enough sleep at night, reduce light and noise when you are lying in bed. Set the position as comfortable as possible, avoid side positions, and prone while sleeping.
- Avoid Caffeine
At night, avoid drinking caffeine-containing drinks (such as coffee), consuming caffeine just before bedtime will only make it difficult for you to sleep and can increase muscle tension.
- Stop Forcing Your Jaw To Work
Avoid activities that make the jaw tense, such as opening the mouth too wide (for example, when yawning), singing too long or too much, playing too long or excessive wind instruments and so on.
When your jaw feels sore, you can do first aid by compressing it. Compress the outer jaw using a hot or cold towel, you can choose one. Compress for 10-20 minutes four times a day, compressing the jaw can help relax muscles, so that joint pain can be reduced. Then take anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin (decaffeinated).
However, immediately consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Home remedies do not reduce jaw pain.
- Jaw pain interferes with your daily routine.
- There is a change in the way the jaw moves.
- The jaw makes a “click” or explosion as it moves.
- Jaw pain that spreads to around the neck or upper back.
- Jaw pain accompanied by eye pain, vision changes or headaches.
- Jaw pain accompanied by ringing in the ears.
- There is swelling around the jaw, which could be a sign infection.
DELFI ANA HOPE
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