If your temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms are mild, try home treatment for at least 2 weeks. If your symptoms get worse during this time, call your doctor or dentist.

Home treatment involves reducing your stress, resting your jaw (by eating only soft or pureed foods), taking steps to reduce pain, and exercising your jaw.

To help relieve pain and restore jaw function:

• Try comfort measures such as moist heat, ice, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
• Do jaw exercises as prescribed by your doctor or physical therapist. Also, pay attention to your jaw, and relax it when you are tense.
• Change your diet to decrease jaw strain. For example, avoid hard or chewy foods.
• Manage stress. Many people tend to clench or tighten their muscles when they are under stress of any kind.
• Change your body mechanics, such as by using good posture for sitting and standing.

If you have been diagnosed with a TMD, these home treatment measures will optimize the treatments prescribed by your doctor or dentist, such as a splint therapy or physical therapy.