Management Tips for TMJ & Myofascial Pain

SLEEPING POSITION

Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this can strain your jaw muscles and joint.  Sleeping should be on your back. If you are sleeping on your side, keep your neck and jaw aligned. 

ENJOY SOFT FOODS

Limit your diet to a strict non-chew diet until the pain has improved.  Avoid chewing gum or eating hard or chewy foods. Try to chew on both sides of your mouth to reduce the strain on one side.

UTILIZE MEDICATION

The use of anti-inflammatory and pain reducing medications like Aleve, Tylenol, ibuprofen and aspirin can reduce joint and muscle pain. Avoid medication such a Excedrin and Anacin as they contain caffeine. 

TURN UP THE HEAT

Apply moist heat to the painful area(s) for 20 minutes two to four times each day.

AVOID CAFFEINE

Caffeine stimulates your muscles to contract and become tenser. Caffeine is in coffee, tea, most sodas and chocolate.  While it is difficult to avoid, try to limit your daily caffeine intake during periods of pain.

REST YOUR JAW

Keep your teeth apart and practice good posture. Try placing your tongue lightly on the top of your mouth behind your upper front teeth, allowing the teeth to come apart and relaxing the jaw muscles.

WATCH YOUR HABITS

Avoid habits that put a strain on the jaw muscles and joints: 

• Gum chewing

• Tensing the jaw

• Clenching & grinding of teeth 

• Resting the teeth together

• Biting your cheeks or lips

LIMIT YOUR OPENING

Avoid activities that involve opening the jaw wide- yawning, yelling, prolonged dental treatments. 

Our Specialists

Dr. Leo Perez: Oral, Facial Cosmetic and Implant Surgeon | Maxillofacial Surgeon

Leonel Perez, Jr. DDS, MD

LCDR, DC, USN
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dr. Perez is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Special interests include dentoalveolar surgery, dental implant and bone grafting surgeries, orthognathic surgery, trauma surgery, facial reconstructive surgery and TMJ surgery/reconstruction.

A native of Texas, he received his Bachelors degree from the University of Texas of San Antonio (UTSA). Following this, he pursued a degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Dr. Perez has had Navy sponsorship throughout his training via the Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP). He was honorably selected into a Full-Time Out Service (FTOS) OMS residency program during dental school.

Dr. Perez continued his training at UTHSCSA and earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) During this time, he completed his General Surgery/Anesthesia internship and subsequently completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training in 2014.

He is currently active duty in the Navy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. There he functions as staff in an OMS resident and teaching facility that engages in the full scope of the specialty.

Dr. Perez’s practice philosophy is to provide professional and compassionate care to every patient. His goal is to treat every patient as if he were treating his own family members.

Dr. Leo Perez: Oral, Facial Cosmetic and Implant Surgeon | Maxillofacial Surgeon

Daniel Honl, DDS

LCDR, DC, USN
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dr. Honl is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.  He is originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  He attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Chemistry.  He subsequently was awarded the Navy Health Professions Scholarship and attended Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI.  He graduated magna cum laude in 2009 and was awarded the AAOMS Oral Surgery Dental School Achievement Award.

After completing his first Navy tour at Parris Island Marine Recruit Depot, Beaufort, SC, he was selected for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.  After completing residency, he completed a deployment aboard the U.S.S. George H. W. Bush in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.  He was then selected to become the Program Director of the Navy’s only Advanced Clinical Program in Exodontia at Naval Station Great Lakes, North Chicago, IL.  This program trained residents over the course of 12 months in performing advanced dentoalveolar surgery.

He is currently Chairman of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, MD.  He is responsible for training residents in oral surgery and enjoys presenting on oral surgery topics to all the dental specialties.  He is Co-Director of the NPDS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Certifying Examination Review Course.  He was recently selected for promotion to Commander.

Dr. Honl is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.  He is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).  In addition, he is an instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.