TMJ Dysfunction
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is an unfortunately common condition that impacts many people today. This term is used as a blanket statement for a type of inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which connects your mandible to your skull. Simply put, it’s when you experience pain and discomfort around the side of your jaw.
Many people deal with tightness and discomfort with TMJ disorder, and you may be wondering, “will seeing a chiropractor help with TMJ?”
The good news is, yes, if you see the right chiropractor, you can get the help with TMJ issues that you need. But first, there’s more to learn about this disorder and what proper treatment should entail.
How Do I Tell If I Have TMJ Disorder?
The TMJ joint can be found on either side of the head and is responsible for connecting the lower jaw bone to the temporal bones on the side of the skull. Typically, any pain or discomfort in this area can be attributed to TMJD. However, sometimes it’s more than just general pain.
One of the telltale signs of TMJ disorder is clicking or popping in the jaw, and this is what many people associate with TMJ disorder. However, this isn’t the only symptom that is associated with TMJD.
Common symptoms of TMJD include:
- Pain around the ears
- Neck pain
- Jaw pain and soreness or stiffness
- Unexplained headaches
- Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
- Clicking or popping noises when opening and closing the mouth
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear
- Sensitive teeth with no other related dental issue
If you are experiencing some or most of these symptoms, you must visit a chiropractor right away for a proper diagnosis.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
There are a variety of factors that can cause TMJ, some of the most common include injury or trauma to the jaw area. Other issues that can cause TMJ disorders include teeth grinding, sleeping, nail-biting, degenerative joint disease, arthritis, infections, and autoimmune diseases.
Studies indicate that approximately 12% of the United States population experiences TMJ issues either regularly or periodically. But the good news is, there are ways to treat this condition and help keep nagging TMJ pain at bay.
Chiropractic Care for TMJ
When you are experiencing jaw pain and discomfort or any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should visit our office for assistance right away. We will do a full examination and focus on the three muscles surrounding the TMJ: the masseter, temporalis, and the pterygoid. We will also look at the suboccipital muscles as well as the jaw joint. The top two vertebrae in your spine may also be impacting your TMJ so we will need to make sure those are aligned properly.
Before we get started we will do a full patient history and examination to make sure it truly is TMJD you’re dealing with. After that, we will create a care plan that will include adjustments and potentially some at-home exercises that will help build up those muscles and help treat the pain you are dealing with.
