Jaw pain and TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) dysfunction can cause discomfort, clicking sounds, or limited jaw movement. Chiropractic care offers relief by addressing misalignments in the jaw, neck, and upper spine, which may contribute to tension and dysfunction.
Symptoms of jaw pain, tenderness, and clicking, or popping sounds could mean you have TMJ disorder. If you’re suffering from facial discomfort, difficulty chewing, or persistent TMJ pain, see a TMJ Chiropractor for help. A chiropractor who specialises in TMJ dysfunction, like those at Be Fit Chiro in Brunswick, can provide you with the relief you need.
Chiropractic treatment for TMJ disorder can include a variety of different approaches that help relax muscles and improve joint movement. At Be Fit Chiro in Brunswick, we provide patients with complete chiropractic treatment for TMJ to relieve pressure around the jaw muscles with soft tissue therapy and specific chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments. We also use techniques targeted towards facial tension and can provide the appropriate resources for jaw exercises or other non-surgical TMJ treatment options that provide long-term relief with a personalised treatment approach.
When it comes to TMJ pain, chiropractic treatment is often part of the chronic pain management process. Muscle therapy and TMJ adjustments (Activator, for example) are done to restore jaw function, movement, and range of motion and provide pain relief. We provide complete chiropractic services in Brunswick to help your recovery at Be Fit Chiro.
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is a complex sliding hinge joint that connects the lower jawbone, or mandible, to the skull. This joint can be affected by posture, stress, and injury. When the jaw joint and muscles around it are not functioning properly it can cause TMJ disorder symptoms, which impact the daily function of this joint.
The temporomandibular joint or TMJ works like a sliding hinge that lets you open and close your mouth. The second movement it can make is a sliding movement referred to as translation that moves the lower jaw down and forward. In translation, the TMJ can move backward, forward, and side-to-side to help you chew, yawn, talk, and sing.
Left untreated, TMJ discomfort can progress to chronic TMJ pain and greatly affect your life. Our chronic pain chiropractic team can help with alignment, muscle imbalances, and more through their focus on complete pain management, including long-term solutions. Be Fit Chiro provides holistic, individualised chiropractic care to aid your recovery and find relief long-term, with your needs as the top priority.
If you are experiencing jaw pain or discomfort, come see our expert chiropractic team to receive an effective, conservative, and results-driven approach to your treatment. Frozen Shoulder symptoms can sometimes appear together with neck issues, so full care is essential.
Symptoms of TMJ disorder may include:
A chiropractor will focus on the three main jaw muscles, which are the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid, as well as the suboccipital muscles, the jaw joint itself, and the top two cervical vertebrae.
Chiropractic treatment plans for TMJ disorder will generally focus on reducing soft tissue pain and improving the range of motion for the TMJ. Treatments can include TMJ adjustments, spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, joint mobilisation, and specific stretches and exercises prescribed to prevent future symptoms.
Ear pain is a common symptom of TMJ disorder, it is due to inflammation or dysfunction of the TMJ area and can often cause pain to radiate towards the ear. Because of this, TMJ pain can often be mistaken for an ear infection and if no infection is present a TMJ disorder may be diagnosed. Although home TMJ treatment can be used for some cases, such as heat/cold packs, it is important to have a proper evaluation by a doctor or dentist.
Frequent headaches or migraines are common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth can put tension and stress on your face and jaw muscles, which leads to chronic headaches. If you are experiencing this as a more severe case of TMJ symptoms your TMJ treatment plan can include TMJ exercises or stress management to help reduce the amount of stress on your TMJs and get rid of the headache pain.
Another common symptom of TMJ dysfunction can be neck pain as your jaw, neck, and upper spine are closely connected, and if you have tension in your jaw from clenching or grinding of your teeth it can radiate and cause pain in the neck and shoulders as well.
Another common sign of TMJ dysfunction can be pain or tenderness over the jaw itself. This is a common symptom and can be caused by arthritis other joint disorders, or jaw injuries. This is also a common cause of chronic TMJ pain, and treatments such as an oral splint or mouthguard may be used to reposition the jaw to reduce stress on the joint.
Difficulty chewing is a common symptom of TMD. Since your jaw has to move in certain ways to chew this can put added aggravation and pressure on your TMJ joints and muscles, which can cause TMJ pain and discomfort. In more severe cases TMJ or joint surgery may be a treatment option to help provide long-term relief, although most cases will focus on non-surgical treatment such as an oral splint, pain relievers, or bite correction.
Popping or clicking sounds when you open or close your mouth can be a sign that the jaw is not moving as it should or in severe cases when your jaw is dislocated. This is often referred to as jaw clicking or locking and is a common sign of TMJ dysfunction. This may or may not be accompanied by TMJ pain, as some people hear noises from their jaw without it causing them discomfort. TMJ arthroscopy or other dental procedures may be a treatment option to help get the jaw aligned properly in certain cases.
TMJ symptoms can also cause other symptoms such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or dizziness. This is most likely due to how closely the TMJs are connected to the ear, but if you are experiencing this without any other symptoms then a dentist or oral surgeon may want to diagnose you with TMJ disorder to rule out any other possible conditions. Medication and TMJ exercises may be used to help reduce these symptoms.
Another common sign of TMJ disorder can be unexplained teeth sensitivity, particularly if there are no dental issues found by your dentist. This is often the result of clenching, grinding your jaw, or jaw misalignment which can cause excess pressure on the teeth. A mouthguard is one of the easiest treatment options to protect your teeth and help with teeth sensitivity.
The main areas chiropractors are going to be focused on for TMJ dysfunction are the three key jaw muscles, which are the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid. The suboccipital muscles, the jaw joint itself, and the top two cervical vertebrae are also commonly affected and should be checked by a Brunswick Chiropractor to ensure there is proper spinal alignment.
Muscle therapy and TMJ adjustments (Activator, for example) restore jaw function, movement, and range of motion and provide TMJ pain relief.
Conditions such as osteoarthritis can lead to the joints becoming degraded, which can lead to structural problems with your jaw. In addition to that, optimal oral health and proper jaw movement are also important to treat and manage TMJ pain.
For more severe TMJ dysfunction cases, a TMJ arthroscopy or surgery may be a treatment option. Oral surgery is generally considered a last-resort treatment for TMJ dysfunction and is only used after less-invasive treatments have been tried and have not provided enough relief. When dental treatment is also needed then a close collaboration between the chiropractor and dentist is key to providing the best possible outcome.
When you book an appointment with a TMJ disorder clinic you can rest assured that you are going to receive the appropriate level of care. A dentist or oral surgeon will be able to recommend things like joint surgery if you are experiencing severe discomfort, jaw dysfunction, or even back pain as a secondary condition.
Research into Craniofacial has shown that common repetitive behaviours such as chewing gum can cause TMJ symptoms to be made worse, particularly if someone is predisposed to joint misalignment or joint inflammation. This is why addressing lifestyle habits can be an important part of a holistic management plan.
In conclusion, there are many symptoms that are associated with TMJ dysfunction, which can include a variety of different types of TMJ pain, inflammation, jaw clenching, and jaw misalignment. TMJ treatment by a qualified professional can be useful for improving oral health, treating and managing other conditions, and overall improving quality of life.
