See a doctor if: A jaw that locks open or shut, severe pain, swelling, fever, pain spreading to the chest or arm, or trouble swallowing - seek medical or dental care.
Kitchen remedies
Rest the jaw with a soft diet for a few days; warm compresses over the joint; avoiding chewing gum, hard or very chewy foods and wide yawning; gentle jaw stretches; noticing and releasing daytime clenching; stress-reduction; magnesium-rich foods to relax muscles
Featured herbs
How to prepare
Cautions
Night-time teeth grinding (bruxism) often drives jaw pain; a dentist can advise a night guard. Avoid over-opening and hard foods during a flare.
Related remedies
Headache (tension type)Migraine (supportive)Joint Pain & StiffnessBack Pain (mild mechanical)Nerve Pain / Tingling (supportive)Sciatica (mild, supportive)Frozen Shoulder / Shoulder Stiffness (supportive)Heel Pain / Plantar Fasciitis (supportive)
When to see a doctor. Home remedies are for minor, self-limiting complaints in adults. They are not a substitute for medical care, and herbs can interact with medicines. Not for children under the ages stated, in pregnancy, or with chronic conditions without a doctor's advice.
