TMJ affects a countless number of people in the United States alone. If you suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), then you might be unconsciously making your pain worse. Read on to learn of some bad habits you might need to break and easy tips to help you.
Nail Biting
Nail biting causes your jaw to move in ways it was not created for. The unfamiliar movements can worsen your TMJ pain. Instead of hurting your jaw, and your nails, keep a good nail care routine. Invest in a professional manicure or use nail polish which helps to prevent nail biting. Ask your friends and family to call you out when they notice you biting your nails.
Grinding Your Teeth or Clenching Your Jaw
If you have the habit of grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, then you are worsening your jaw pain. Regardless if your habit is grinding your teeth at night or while you are awake, there are easy ways to help stop it. Ask your TMJ specialist if a mouth piece would work for you. Take control of your stress levels to avoid jaw clenching. Try resting your mouth between your teeth to keep your teeth from touching.
Not Using Scissors
Stop the bad habit of trading your scissors for your teeth. This again causes your jaw to move in ways it was not intended for. Try to keep a small pair of scissors that fit in a nail kit with you in your car or purse for when you need to cut off tags and snags. Ask others around you if they have something sharp to help you.
Following these tips and the ones provided to you by your doctor will help you to avoid TMJ-related jaw pain. Don’t get discouraged if it takes you awhile to defeat your bad habits, with persistence you can do it!
