TMJ and Jaw Pain: Chiropractic Treatment In Concord
Does your jaw ache when you chew, feel tight in the morning or click when you open your mouth? Jaw pain and discomfort can affect simple, but essential everyday activities such as eating, speaking and yawning.
People often ask whether a chiropractor can help with TMJ or jaw pain. In most cases, the answer is YES- particularly when the muscles and joints involved in jaw movement are contributing. The first step is understanding what is causing your symptoms.
The Temopromandibular Joint (TMJ)
The temporomandibular joint or TMJ is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. Locating one on each side of your face, just in front of ears, It is invoved with a variety of daily activities including breathing, chewing and talking.
Although people often call jaw problems as "TMJ" issue, the temporomandibular disorders (TMD) describes conditions affecting these joints and muscles that control them.
Anatomy of Temporomandibular Joint
The joint is surrounded by the capsules and between two articulations of face (condyle) and jaw bone (temporal bone), and there's a small articular disc made sof tough, flexible connective tissue between the two bone. The disc helps distribute pressure and accommodates movement, while the joint capsule and ligaments provide support.
TMJ is sliging hinge joint that allows two particular motions while opening mouth:
Rotation: The jaw bone (condyle) rotates and provide a hinge-like movement
Translation: The condyle and disc glide forwards and downwards along the face bone (Temporal bone), allowing a wider opening.
Common Symptoms of TMD
Common symptoms associated with TMJ disorder include:
Pain in the jaw or face
Clicking, popping or grinding when open and close mouth
Difficulty opening mouth
Headache or migraines (Read our blog article to learn more about headache:Understanding Different Types of Headache: Diagnosis, Management, and Chiropractic Treatment )
Earaches or ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
Neck and shoulder pain
TMJ disorder often mimics with other conditions. Many people are confused with ear or dental problems as they think the problem is coming from ear or tooth.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
There is often more than one contributing factor, and sometimes no clear cause can be identified. Common Causes of TMJ disorder include:
Teeth grinding and clenching (Bruxism)
Stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation which can trigger jaw clenching and muscle tensions around the jaw
Poor posture, especially with rounded shoulder, slouching posture and forward head carriage
Trauma (e.g. direct trauma to the jaw during boxing sparring, tackled to the jaw from rugby match)
Degeneration (Arthritis) of the TMJ and articular disc
What Can You Do at Home?
There are few things to help management of jaw pain or discomfort at home:
Temporarily choose softer foods and smaller bites
Avoid chewing gum and very chewy foods
Avoid opening your mouth excessively wide
Notice daytime clenching and allow your teeth to rest apart
Stress management (such as meditation, gentle walk during the day)
Is Chiropractic Care Appropriate Option For You?
Some of Jaw/ TMJ pain and discomforts resembles other conditions such as dental or oral (e.g. tooth infection), neurological (e.g. Trigeminal Neuralgia), or sinus infection. Therefore, proper assessments and examinations are crucial to identify the cause of the pain.
Chiropractic care can help if the problem is musculoskeltal issues. Often TMJ dysfunction can come from mechanical origin.
Poor posture such as Slouching and forward head carriage with prolonged screen use can often cause increased muscular strain for neck and upper back muscles. Forwarded head position often then causes back & neck muscles and mastication muscles work harder to support weight of the head against gravity. This also increases pressure on articular disc when opening and closing the mouth, which can also cause articular disc degeneration
At Back and Beyond Chiropractic, we utilise a holistic treatment approach to help people with jaw & TMJ pain. Our aim is to reduce pain, restore functions and educate people about their condition. Treatment is combinations of
Hands on treatment: Chiropractic adjustments, Dry needling, Trigger point therapy can be used to address the issue
(Read our blog article to learn more about dry needling: "Dry Needling in Concord: Benefits and What to Expect")
Rehabilitation exercise: Postural exercises, controlled mouth opening/closing exercises
Ergonomic advice: Education of right posture and habits from workplace and daily habits
When to Seek Prompt Help
Seek prompt medical assessment if your jaw becomes locked, you cannot open or close it normally, or pain prevents you from eating or drinking. Jaw pain following an injury also needs assessment. Do not try to force a locked or dislocated jaw back into place.
Jaw Pain Assessment in Concord
Experiencing jaw pain, stiffness or discomfort when chewing? Book a consultation or call us 0449 858 802 to discuss your symptoms and find out if you can benefit from chiropractic care.
Located at 13 Gipps Street, Concord, we welcome patients from Burwood, Rhodes, Five Dock and across Sydney’s Inner West. Our clinic is open seven days a week, with street parking along Gipps Street. Consultations are available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Korean.
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