04/13/2020 / By Arsenio Toledo
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune arthritis. It is caused by the immune system not functioning properly and attacking healthy cells in and around your joints. RA causes a variety of symptoms, such as swelling and pain in the wrists and small joints of the feet, hands and knees. However, this inflammation and pain can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the jaw. While estimates of its prevalence vary, jaw pain is believed to occur in the later stages of RA.
Medical practitioners diagnose RA-induced jaw pain based on a patient’s medical history. They also take into account the symptoms presented by a patient, as well as the results of diagnostic tests. These tests include a physical examination of the jaw, X-rays of the jaw joint, MRI scans and even blood tests that measure antibody levels and help rule out the possibility of an infection.
When the inflammation caused by RA reaches the jaw, it can cause pain and stiffness in that area. These, in turn, can affect a person’s ability to eat, drink, speak and even sleep. In children, this inflammation can interrupt the development of their jaws.
Here are the common symptoms of RA in the jaw:
Fortunately, there are natural treatments for relieving jaw pain caused by RA. (Related: 14 Natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.)
The first treatment you should consider is jaw exercises. Consult with a trusted natural health practitioner about the best types of exercises for your condition. Without guidance, you may end up overusing your jaw and aggravating your symptoms. Warming up the jaw muscles before doing any exercise can help prevent injury.
Here’s a simple exercise that you can do:
Slowly opening and closing your mouth is another simple exercise that you can do. Sit in front of a mirror while you do this and make sure that your jaw doesn’t swing to one side or the other. Repeat this 10 times and do the exercise two to three times a day.
Here are other home remedies that you can try:
Natural remedies like the ones listed above can help relieve jaw pain caused by RA and decrease your risk of developing complications. For best results and to ensure your safety, seek advice from a trusted natural health practitioner before trying these remedies.
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alternative medicine, arthritis cures, disease treatments, immune system, inflammation, jaw exercises, jaw pain, natural cures, natural health, natural medicine, Naturopathy, pain relief, remedies, rheumatoid arthritis
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