If you are experiencing a lot of jaw pain and have come to read about how to get some relief, please read on. There are answers out there. Personally I have been helped a lot with TMJ exercises, even when the dentist suggested surgery for my jaw.

Many of us experience discomfort in the jaw joint or what in medically appropriate terms is known as the Temporomandibular Joint. There are many reasons that may lead to the dysfunction of this joint. We speak, chew, yawn and grind our teeth with the help of this joint, which connects the lower jaw of our mouth to the temporal bone of the skull. It is located right in front of the ears.

In case there is a situation of jaw popping or locking there may be severe pain and swelling in the area which can easily go up into the head or affect the ears.

Chewing gum can be a great exercise for your jaw when there are no problems, but you can overdo it. Over working the jaw muscles only results in tension created in the muscles which lead to tightening of the jaw. And when you are having jaw problems causing discomfort, it is best not to chew gum.

Your muscles, joints and ligaments of the jaws may have moved out of alignment with the problems you are manifesting. Now is the time to rest your jaws when possible and find some things that help.

Suggestions For Relief

A dentist may tell you that you need a mouthguard to realign your jaw.

You may be told to consciously relax your shoulders, face and jaw muscles to ease TMJ symptoms.

Sleep on your back or side, as sleeping face down pushes your face to the side, causing pressure on the jaw.

Surgery may be suggested. Be sure to try looking at other means to correct your problem first.

If you are already experiencing jaw pain then try to stay away from foods that require major chewing or grinding actions. Stay away from very hard or brittle foods that need force to chew them down to a swallowable size. This will help in getting jaw pain relief.

Do not pop your jaw purposely. Popping the jaw back in place may seem like an easy "undo" option but if this is a regular habit then it will cause pain eventually.

Eat plenty of vegetables, especially dark green vegetables. They contain Calcium and Magnesium, which help with healthy muscles, ligaments and tendons.

In order to keep the jaw joint functioning healthily you may perform some pressure applications and massages at home. Putting pressure on the nerves of the jaw joint located right below the ears and opening and closing the mouth at the same time can help increase its mobility.

It is important to take care of your TMJ at the first sign of problems. I was told I would need surgery. Learn how I got rid of my TMJ through physical therapy that I could do myself. You can learn this too.