Ice numbs it, but then my face feels like a frozen steak, and ibuprofen helps until my stomach starts plotting revenge.
This is exactly how I feel—except my stomach doesn’t just plot, it straight-up mutinies if I take ibuprofen two days in a row. I tried the ice pack thing too, but half the time I end up with a wet pillow and a numb ear. My partner walked in on me once and legit thought I was trying to chill leftovers on my jaw.
I’m still in the “what even works?” phase. Ice is nice until it wears off and then...back to square one. Ibuprofen helps, but honestly, I’m paranoid about messing up my stomach long-term. Has anyone here tried those heat packs instead? Or is that just asking for more pain? My dentist said “try both” but didn’t exactly say which one wouldn’t make me feel like a science experiment gone wrong.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with other stuff—like jaw stretches or those weird mouth guards you wear at night?
I hear you on the ibuprofen—my stomach can’t handle it more than a day either. I’ve tried heat packs a few times, but honestly, sometimes it just makes my jaw feel puffier, almost like I’m encouraging more swelling? Ice is nice for numbing, but yeah, I end up cold and soggy too. My dentist gave me one of those soft mouth guards for nighttime and it does help a bit if I remember to wear it. Jaw stretches...eh, sometimes they help, sometimes they just make my face ache more. Still haven’t found the magic fix.
Ice is nice for numbing, but yeah, I end up cold and soggy too.
I can relate. Ice helps with the immediate pain, but after a while, I’m just uncomfortable from the chill. I’ve had better luck alternating ice and heat—just not for too long on either one. Mouth guards are a lifesaver, though I forget to use mine half the time. Ibuprofen upsets my stomach too, so I mostly stick to topical gels and gentle stretching. It’s a bit of trial and error, honestly.
Alternating ice and heat actually makes a ton of sense—I've read that the contrast can help with circulation and muscle relaxation, especially around the jaw. That said, I never had much luck with just topical gels. They feel nice at first, but for me, the effect fades pretty quick.
I’m a bit stubborn about gadgets, so I ended up trying one of those electric heated pads with adjustable temps, and it worked better than a basic hot water bottle. Less mess, too. The mouth guard thing is tricky... I always think I’ll wear it consistently but then forget half the time until my jaw’s already sore.
Ibuprofen bugs my stomach as well, so I’ve tried acetaminophen occasionally—doesn’t help inflammation much, but at least it doesn’t upset my gut. Has anyone experimented with those TENS units for jaw pain? I keep seeing them online, but not sure if they’re worth the investment or just another techy gimmick.
I’ve actually tried a TENS unit for jaw pain after a particularly bad flare-up a couple years back. Didn’t expect much, honestly, but it surprised me. If I used it at the lowest setting, it gave just enough relief to take the edge off without making things feel weird or tingly. Not a miracle fix, but it helped on days when ice or heat alone weren’t cutting it. I do think the trick is keeping the pads in the right spot—if they’re too close to the joint, it just feels odd. Still need to combine it with jaw stretches and the mouth guard (when I actually remember to wear it), but for what it’s worth, the TENS wasn’t just a gimmick for me.
