A close second to swimming, popsicles are something my kids enjoy all summer long. They’re so cold and refreshing, what could be better on a hot summer day?

Popsicles are also helpful for people with TMJ, temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This condition of the jaw joint can cause pain, clicking, locking of the jaw, and muscle spasm in the muscles of the cheek that are responsible for chewing. I recommend to my patients with TMJ disorders that they use a popsicle to help massage the muscles from the inside of the mouth. The popsicles can be gently moved along the inside of the cheek on the painful side, way back towards the last molars. The benefit of massage is to help reduce muscle spasm, improve circulation, and help promote healing. The fact that it’s so cold helps to reduce inflammation, as well as pain and muscle spasm.

So summer or not, child or not, popsicles could be a source of pain relief for you if you suffer from TMJ dysfunction.