TMJ (Tempomandibular Joint) Pain Manual therapy and exercise can play a role in pain management, however education and activity modifications are often more important for long-term outcomes. HABITS Bite nails, chew pens, chew tongue or cheek, consistently rest head on your hand? These may be one of the contributors to persisting symptoms. STRESS Depression, anxiety and poor stress management can lead to teeth grinding when awake or asleep. Is your pain worse around a large workload? Have there been any recent life-changing events such as divorce or death? Figuring out how to best relax and manage stressors is recommended. SLEEP Quality, quantity and consistency matter. Certain sleeping positions can modify symptoms, often depending on the individual. FOOD Load management matters for diet. Hard to chew foods such as carrots, almonds, gum and tough meats can add more load to the jaw than it can currently tolerate. Also be mindful of amount of mouth opening required - cut food into smaller pieces to calm symptoms down. Dr Ayaz Physiotherapy weight loss hair and skin clinic nallasopara 8080292950