Not just backs! Jaw pain
"Chiropractors just click backs right?"
Today we kick off our "not just backs" series with temporomandibular joint dysfunction... or to put it simply, jaw pain.
We've seen an increase in people with jaw pain at Gillingham Chiropractic Clinic recently. 9 times out of 10 the patient comes in with some other form of pain, and the jaw pain just happens to come up in conversation; most people have no idea that it is something we can help with! This condition is referred to as temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD for short and it is more common in women. Did you know that it was something that Chiropractic can help with?
Causes of TMD:
Uneven bite
Teeth grinding
Favouring one side when chewing (e.g. gum)
Wear and tear at the joint
An injury to the jaw (e.g. fall)
Symptoms of TMD:
Jaw/facial pain
Headaches
Jaw clicking/grinding
Jaw locking
Inability to fully open mouth
Isn't this a job for my dentist?
It is always a good idea to visit your dentist first to make sure there isn't anything more serious going on with your teeth and jaw. If it is confirmed that you have TMD, your dentist may be able to help you by treating problems with your bite, or by making you a mouth guard to help with teeth grinding. They may also show you some exercises that may help and can offer advice on things you can do to help yourself and things to avoid.
What can a Chiropractor do about it?
Chiropractic treatment of TMD is more hands-on. A lot of the treatment is spent massaging the muscles of the jaw (both inside and outside the mouth, in case you were wondering why I have a box of gloves at the clinic!), as well as gently mobilising and manipulating the joint itself - don't worry, I know jaw manipulation sounds scary but is is actually a gentle treatment! We also find that a lot of people suffering with TMD have issues in their neck as well, possibly from holding themselves so tense with the jaw pain, so we often treat the muscles and joints of the neck as well.
Just before you go…
...this is how Emily got TMD herself, falling face first into mud!
Next in our "Not Just Backs" series will be plantar fasciitis