Despite what many people think, TMJ is not a disease or a condition. It is a joint that holds your upper and lower jaw together. When this joint is damaged or somehow misaligned, it can cause jaw pain, headaches, neck pain and more. The condition is appropriately called TMD or temporomandibular joint disease because it mainly affects your TMJ. There are some ways you can ease the jaw pain and symptoms of TMD. These include:

• Moist heat from a heat pack or hot water bottle wrapped in a warm, moist towel, which can improve function and reduce pain
• Ice or ice pack to relieve pain and swelling
• Soft diet with easy-to-chew foods
• Over-the-counter analgesics
• Relaxation techniques (yoga, biofeedback, etc.)
• Relaxing facial muscles
• Jaw exercises
• Side sleeping