Jaw pain is not all that uncommon among people these days, and if you have experienced it, you know that it is just plain uncomfortable. Temporomandibular Joint (also known as “TMJ”) is the joint that connects the lower jaw bone and the skull. People that are experiencing TMJ jaw pain may feel pain when this joint is moved, or they may have pain all the time regardless of the motion that is occurring in the jaw.

TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint disorders, is often caused by unsymmetrical chewing patterns, tightness of the neck, and head posture. TMJ jaw pain especially common for people who tend to grind their teeth at night in their sleep and do it unknowingly. This is simply called Sleep Bruxism.

Some of the most common TMJ symptoms include:

1. Headaches
2. A sudden change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
3. A clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth
4. Jaws that “get stuck,” lock or go out
5. Tenderness of the jaw muscles
6. Pain brought on by yawning, opening the mouth widely or chewing

If you are getting a clicking and/or popping noise in your jaw when you open and close your mouth, this too is a form of TMJ syndrome. You should always consult a bowmanville chiropractor or medical doctor when experiencing any kinds of pain, especially TMJ jaw pain.

There are several forms of TMJ treatment, including: bite guards to adjust the way the jaw fits together, exercises to change the way the jaw muscles move, and in severe cases surgery may be needed.

Here is a list of clinicians that traditionally may treat TMJ dysfunction:

• Dentists
• Chiropractors
• Orthopedists
• Neurologists
• Psychologists
• Medical Doctors
• Massage Therapists
• Acupuncturists

What Will Bowmanville Chiropractor Do?

Chiropractors specialize in working with the connections between muscle and bone in the body, while they are often stigmatized and only working on the back, neck, and limbs. The jaw is still a very intricate connection between bone and tissue, meaning that chiropractors are able to treat many problems associated with jaw pain.

Always visit a professional if you are experiencing signs of TMJ disorder which are not subsiding on their own. If you pay a visit to the chiropractor and they are able to treat your problem, you can go back to a healthy pain-free life without the need for invasive medical treatments.