Table of Content
How to Manage Pregnancy Jaw Pain
by Dylan Hao |
Ahhh, the joys of pregnancy! The sweet feel of little kicks and flutters in your belly, the glow of your skin as the months go by, the pain in your jaw…
What? Jaw pain from being pregnant?
Yes, this problem is a thing; however, most people don’t talk about it. You expect the aches and pains to develop in your back and hips, but feeling them in your jaw and ears is a common pregnancy-related symptom, too.
What causes jaw pain during pregnancy, and how can you safely treat it? This guide shares all of those answers!
How to Safely Treat Pregnancy-Related Jaw Pain
Pregnancy comes with a variety of aches and pains as your body adjusts to creating a baby and preparing for childbirth. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort and jaw pain are among the many symptoms you might experience.
No matter what type of discomfort you feel, you always want to make sure the treatment doesn’t harm your developing little one. We’ve compiled a list of traditionally safe ways to treat pain caused by stress to the jaw muscles, whether it’s due to TMJ issues or bruxism (teeth grinding). However, many potential remedies for TMJ pain, such as anti-inflammatory medications, should be discussed with your OB/GYN first.
Natural and At-Home Remedies
The quickest way to get relief from jaw pain is to handle it when it happens. These natural and at-home remedies are available over-the-counter (OTC) or are already in your cupboard or fridge.
Hot and Cold Treatments
Hot and cold therapy in various forms are usually easily accessible, whether you’re at work or home. But which temperature works for what problems?
If the jaw pain is new, it could be related to swelling or inflammation of the nerves. In that case, try ice packs applied to the sore spot (with a layer of cloth between the ice and your skin). A general rule is to keep the ice in place for 10-15 minutes, three times a day.
For ongoing jaw pain, moist heat packs relax and soothe your muscles into relief. If you don’t have a hot pack on hand, try a hot shower.
OTC Pain Meds
Myths abound as to which over-the-counter pain relievers are safe to use during pregnancy. As more and more research appears, the things we once took for granted as okay for pain relief are now under scrutiny.
The best course of action is to ask your OB for specific suggestions on how to handle your pain with medication.
Jaw Stretches and Exercises
Exercise during pregnancy is often recommended as both a physical and emotional way to keep you healthy.
Yet, even if your doctor suggests bed rest or limited movement, you can still exercise and stretch your jaws to reduce discomfort. Certain jaw exercises reduce jaw tension, strengthen your facial muscles, and increase the smoothness of your jaw’s mobility.
Night Guards
For mild TMDs (TMJ disorders) and bruxism, a night guard is frequently the first course of treatment. These handy oral appliances prevent your upper and lower teeth from touching.
Since they can’t gain traction, the jaw muscles are forced to relax, and the dangers of grinding and teeth clenching (damaged enamel, stress to the teeth and jaw, headaches, and other symptoms) are significantly reduced.
Learn More: 7 Unpleasant Side Effects of Grinding Your Teeth
OTC night guards are found in many pharmacies and drugstores, but they’re usually lower-quality and can do more harm than good. If the night guard isn’t explicitly designed for your teeth shape, it can add pressure that forces your teeth to shift and worsens the jaw pain.
Instead, look for professional-quality night guards like those we offer at JS Dental Lab. They’re as good as what you’d get from your dentist’s office — without the hefty price tag and annoying dental visits.
Habit Changes
You’ve likely already seen a few ways that being pregnant encourages you to change your habits, like eating better and halting lifestyles that could harm the baby.
Jaw pain is another symptom that could be helped simply by tweaking your routine. Try increasing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga, journaling, and spending time outdoors.
Switch to eating soft foods and avoiding sticky, hard, and chewy items. Move chewing gum and steak to the post-pregnancy diet list, and you’ll likely notice a steady decrease in jaw pain and other TMJ symptoms.
Professional Care
Natural remedies can put a temporary halt to some amount of pain. But for severe discomfort, a more intensive treatment option might be necessary. When that happens, the cause of your pain could be something that needs to be addressed by a professional.
Dental Care
One of the many myths that circulate during pregnancy is the need to stay far away from the dentist’s chair. The truth is that many pregnant women develop dental issues like cavities because of changes in hormones and the drain of their nutrients from the mom to the baby.
If your jaw pain is caused by a cavity or other dental issue, don’t wait!
These minor problems can be mitigated by the dentist, even if they delay treatment until after you give birth. Without the guidance of a dental or healthcare provider, a minor issue like a cavity can turn into a dangerous and potentially deadly infection.
Physical Therapy
Watch late-term pregnant women, and you’ll quickly see that they just walk differently than the rest of the world. This change in posture could be causing your jaw pain and creating a misalignment that adds stress to the muscles and joints in your body.
With some basic physical therapy treatments and suggestions, you’ll:
- Learn good posture habits
- Understand how to navigate the “pregnant woman shuffle” without added discomfort
- Get tips on how to reduce sleep disturbances by adjusting your sleep posture
Chiropractic and Acupunctural Care
Thinking of visiting your chiropractor or acupuncturist for relief from the ongoing discomfort in your jaw and spine, but not sure if it’s safe for the baby?
You’ll be pleased to know that many experts suggest these alternative conservative treatments as preferred options over medication.
Chiropractic care via spinal and jaw adjustments can help relieve jaw pain and other pregnancy-related issues by restoring the jaw and spine to their original alignment. Your chiropractor can also help with pain management and posture.
While acupuncture isn’t as well-known amongst many people as chiropractic care, it’s often beneficial for pregnancy-related pain. This millennia-old treatment might seem intimidating if you don’t like needles, but the relief it could bring makes it worth a try!
During a treatment session, the acupuncturist strategically places tiny needles in the skin. When those points are stimulated, the effect is a balance in the body that creates the desired result.
For pregnant women, this goal could be reducing jaw pain, getting rid of other aches and discomfort, reducing headaches, and even easing morning sickness.
As with all treatments, talking to your obstetrician before seeking any outside therapy is essential.
Why Your Jaw Hurts When You’re Pregnant
So, what’s going on in your body that’s causing all these aches and pains, anyway?
It all comes down to hormones, hormones, hormones (the usual answer for women’s issues at nearly any age).
In pregnancy, the hormonal changes that prepare the body for childbirth also loosen the ligaments and muscles connected to the jaw. Specifically, fluctuations in estrogen and relaxin increase the laxity of the joints.
This is a crucial step, as your body must adjust to your child's “growing” needs and prepare for the birthing process. But the downside is that the laxity isn’t confined solely to those joints — everything is affected, including your jaw.
The instability can mean new issues are created, and pre-existing conditions like cavities, TMJ problems, and bruxism are exacerbated.
Your Diet Matters, Too
In addition to hormones, vitamin deficiencies in calcium and other essential nutrients are another cause of jaw pain. As the baby depletes the mother’s storehouse of vitamins and minerals, the immune system’s ability to care for the whole body diminishes, and bone and muscle problems arise.
To actively reduce jaw pain, increase your intake of softer fruits, veggies, and protein. Grains and starches are on the menu, but seeds and nuts can get caught in your gums and cause more problems.
As mentioned earlier, try to avoid anything that overworks your jaw. Take chewy, tough, crunchy, and large items (think: whole apples) off the menu.
What You Can Do To Avoid Jaw Pain Flare-Ups
Keeping your hormones under control and working on your diet are easier said than done when you’re pregnant. But with the knowledge you have, you can actively work on reducing jaw pain.
Still, flare-ups happen.
Whether yours are caused by extra stress (mental or physical) and increased grinding, dental problems, or sinus issues, the key is to avoid those flare-ups.
These tips can guide you as you attempt to enjoy every moment of your pregnancy journey with minimal discomfort:
Wear a Night Guard
Bruxism and TMJ disorders don’t need to keep you awake at night. A night guard can minimize the symptoms and decrease jaw joint and facial pain. If you’re not sure how to find the right appliance, head over to our quiz or ask our friendly professionals for help!
Boost Your Stress Management Techniques
Take a natural walk, journal, meditate, or find a hobby. Think you don’t have time for stress management?
Guess what? Just learning how to breathe mindfully is one of the best methods you can use. As a bonus, these are all great ways to help you stay more in the present and less stressed with a demanding infant and busy toddler.
Watch Your Diet
Stick with soft foods and diligently focus on increasing your vitamins to avoid those unhealthy deficiencies that can impact you and your growing baby.
Get Regular Conservative Care
Talk to your OB to find out if physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage may be beneficial for you. In the meantime, pay attention to your posture: shoulders back, neck up, and don’t slouch!
Conclusion
You have a miracle forming within your womb. Don’t let jaw pain distract you from enjoying every moment of this short time, even if it seems like it will never end. Try one or all of these methods to manage jaw discomfort and avoid flare-ups.
At JS Dental Lab, we know that being pregnant means minimizing unnecessary time on your feet. Our custom-made night guard ordering process starts with your digital device and arrives in the mail, keeping you free to prop your feet up and relax every step of the way.
