{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"1FQDMKjCjj45KT3I3tfd1T","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Half an inch in front of your earlobe, nestled in the space where your lower jaw meets your skull, resides a little joint that can cause a lot of trouble. Clicking, stiffness, or dull pain when you chew or talk are the biggest indicators that you have angered it. We’re talking about your temporomandibular joint, or, as it’s more commonly known, your TMJ, which can sometimes negatively affect your sleep health. ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Best TMJ pillows at a glance","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best for neck support: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://theskimm.prsm1.com/r?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%2F%3Fid%3D116377X1575754%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.tempurpedic.com%252Fshop-pillows%252Ftempur-neck-pillow%252Fv%252F573%252F%26xcust%3Dwb-&h=1bac56c8b65d02c17bd37088a496f7c757067315f81309e3ac758310f4414200&click_data_02=home-decor&click_data_04=well-good"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"TempurPedic, Tempur-Neck Pillow, $109","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best firm pillow for TMJ: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://amzn.to/4nyr2wD"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Zamat, Adjustable Cervical Memory Foam Pillow, $50","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best TMJ pillow for side sleepers: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://amzn.to/4nAC30v"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"PureComfort, Side Sleeping Pillow, $60","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best TMJ pillow for back sleepers: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://amzn.to/3KqOPAb"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Core Products, Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow, $50","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best organic pillow for TMJ: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://amzn.to/4ny5v7d"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Beans72, Organic Buckwheat Pillow, $80","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Best breathable pillow for TMJ: ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://theskimm.prsm1.com/r?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%2F%3Fid%3D116377X1575754%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.coyuchi.com%252Fproducts%252Fturiya-organic-latex-pillow-alpine-white%26xcust%3Dwb-&h=8322d09b1b517ab8ba3d50aee725457e6c694f331b5172518947ec792572b37f&click_data_02=home-decor&click_data_04=well-good"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Coyuchi, Turiya Organic Latex Pillow, $148","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"}],"nodeType":"unordered-list"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"What is TMJ pain?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The TMJ is a hard-working joint that is easily affected by the structures surrounding it and, most notably, your neck. Think of the two as the Bonnie and Clyde of the upper anatomy, if one goes down, the other is likely to follow.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"In fact, a 2015 study published in ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4391655/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"BioMed Research International","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" found that pain in the neck region was associated with TMJ pain 70 percent of the time. “If you take your hand and place it right under the back of your ear, you can feel two pressure points. Those points are actually the sides of your first vertebrae. You can feel just how close they are to your TMJ,” says ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-huntsinger-036b9719b/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Mark Huntsinger, PT, DPT","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", a physical therapist based in Marina Del Ray, California. When the neck and TMJ are working together optimally, the first vertebrae are taking some pressure off the jaw. “So, when those upper neck joints get stiff and lockout, instead of this nice, smooth movement when we’re chewing or talking, all of the force goes right to our jaw,” says Huntsinger.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"The good news? Using a special pillow can help relieve TMJ pain by keeping your head, neck, and shoulders in proper alignment while you sleep, reducing pressure on the joint. To help relieve TMJ pain, let one of the best TMJ pillows do the work while you sleep. Shop from six options below.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"6 best TMJ pillows, according to physical therapists","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"16hWNZ4uNFDVmTHdiZo48i","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"5z6MpoHdzVGrU1Q0pnqYJR","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"2S52LgTE4lAprPH54NsGFA","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"2vOsy1Z7joE8i0QYJ44lEW","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"6kO6edlWZ59MvOcqSyhq6h","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"1QUG8IyKoN9PMo0JsC7mxD","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"What pillows are best for TMJ?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"By day, Huntsinger sees clients struggling with joint pain. By night, he serves as TikTok’s resident “","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.tiktok.com/discover/Mark-Huntsinger-PT-DPT?lang=en"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"pillow guy","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":",” going viral several times over for his explainers on how to use pillows to eliminate neck and back stiffness.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"“The only, ‘absolutely no,’ I give people who are looking for a pillow is don’t get a down pillow,” he says. “It doesn’t hold its shape, so you’re going to fall asleep in a different position than you’ll be in an hour later.” Other than that, Huntsinger recommends trial and error. “Some people do really well with memory foam, other people need something softer and less static, others, like me, need a pillow that can be bunched up and will hold that shape.”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"In general, Huntsinger recommends a pillow that can be tucked between your head and shoulders while laying on your side or a pillow that prevents your neck from falling dramatically to either side while sleeping on your back.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Things to consider before buying","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Materials:","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" Some folks like the feel of memory foam, while others prefer a more traditional, fiber-filled pillow. Depending on the material inside, a TMJ pillow may provide a cradling sensation or a more buoyant, lifted feel, so it’s important to consider which materials you tend to find comfortable.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Your preferred sleep position:","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" Compared to traditional, rectangular pillows, TMJ pillows are uniquely shaped. As a result, they’re not all great picks for the same sleep positions. Consider where you need the most support and where you’d like to feel cushioned while you snooze. Back sleepers will want cradling that prevents their head from dipping from side to side, and side sleepers will want plenty of cushion for their neck, jaw, and ears.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Removable covers:","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" Pillows can get pretty gross and need regular washing. As a result, you’ll want to prioritize a pillow that has a removable cover and, ideally, a washable insert.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"value":"Return policy:","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" Comfort is subjective, so finding the right TMJ pillow for you may take a little trial and error. Be sure to read up on the return policy and warranty of each pillow before you buy in case it winds up not being the one.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"FAQ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"What is the best position to sleep in with TMJ?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-3"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Sleeping on your back is your best bet for reducing tension in your jaw muscles. However, while back sleeping can provide TMJ relief, it isn’t comfortable for everyone—if you’re unable to get comfortable on your back, a TMJ pillow that provides ample neck support may help you find pressure relief without changing your sleep style.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"How do you relax your jaw while sleeping?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-3"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Before hitting the hay, consider working through some jaw tension relief exercises. You can try applying pressure to facial acupressure points, giving yourself a massage, or working through dentist-approved jaw stretches.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Should I use a pillow if I have TMJ?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-3"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Yes, but it’s important to find the ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"right","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" pillow. Sleeping without a pillow can increase the pressure on your neck and shoulders and lead to larger problems like neck and back pain. If you have TMJ pain, you’ll want to find a pillow that keeps your neck in comfortable alignment while relieving pressure on your jaw.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}