TMJ disorder is very common and is most often diagnosed after a visit to the dentist. TMJ, or the temporomandibular joint, connects your jawbone to your skull. TMJ disorders can often cause pain in the jaw and in the muscles that control jaw movement. The pain may be caused by a wide variety of problems, such as a jaw injury or even arthritis. If you clench down on your teeth or grind in your sleep, you could also develop TMJ disorder. Thankfully, chiropractic care can be the perfect solution!
When you visit Premier Health Chiropractors for TMJ disorder treatment, a chiropractor will check for signs of inflammation or abnormalities. Special imaging, an x-ray, or an MRI may be needed to confirm that you do have TMJ disorder.
Patients most often visit a chiropractor to help relieve their painful symptoms in a natural and holistic way. Pain could range from a dull, aching pain around the ear which extends to the side and back of the head, or difficulty or pain when biting, chewing, talking, or opening and closing the mouth. Patients may experience a clicking, popping, or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth, an earache, headache, jaw pain, or locking of the jaw. Chiropractic care involves chiropractic manipulation, massage, heat/cold therapy, and special exercises.
A chiropractor can also show you how to relieve your symptoms at home, in a natural way without the use of medication. A chiropractor might recommend special exercises for you to practice at home, to help you stretch and strengthen your jaw. Stretching will help to loosen tight muscles while strengthening helps to tighten muscles that are looser than they should be.
Another technique that a chiropractor can teach you is the use of heat and ice therapy. Ice is best used shortly after an injury or after the pain has started. If you are still experiencing pain, it is important to switch from ice to heat.
Premier Health Chiropractors can also teach you which facial movements are worse for TMJ disorder. Chewing gum, eating giant sandwiches that force you to open your mouth too wide, or chomping into an apple could cause pain.
Chiropractic care is a natural and non-invasive method of pain relief. Medications only mask the pain of a disorder or a disease, but alternative methods actually get to the cause of the pain, which can help to cure the problem. If you are seeking treatment for TMJ disorder, contact Premier Health Chiropractors. An experienced and licensed chiropractor can help you or your child with TMJ disorder in a natural way with no medications or side effects.