I have tmj but can't afford medical care for it. what should i do until i can? would a night guard help or make it worse? should i avoid hard foods?

Care Credit: Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Over the counter devices sold in pharmacies and online are for the most part inadequate, as they are often too thick, poorly retentive, and inadequately cover all of the teeth. As a result these devices can often prompt more clenching, and/ worsen TMJ. CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that can be used for dental procedures.

A few things.: Depends on symptoms, and cause of symptoms. 3 signs of TMJ dysfunction: joint noises, joint pain & limited oral opening. Self treat with soft diet, jaw exercises, massage, heat/cold, OTC pain meds. A splint or physical therapy would be next. Occasionally muscle relaxants, biofeedback. Xrays are done for diagnosis. Surgery usually reserved for serious symptoms not responsive to other treatments.