Jaw (TMJ) Issues: What To Do About It
What is TMJ/TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located just in front of your ears and connects the lower jaw, mandible, to your skull. When these joints are misaligned or stressed, it can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).
Common symptoms of TMD include jaw pain or tenderness, clicking or popping sounds when opening the mouth, difficulty opening or limited jaw movement, difficulty chewing, headaches that radiate into your jaw, cheeks, or temples, ear pain or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and neck pain.
TMD can be caused by a variety of factors, including: jaw injury or trauma, teeth grinding (bruxism), arthritis, stress, muscle tension, poor posture, or parafunctional habits such as: nail-biting, chewing on a pencil or toothpick, etc.
What can I do to prevent TMD?
TMD is often caused by tension in the jaw, face and neck muscles. These overworked muscles can trigger dull, persistent tension headaches around the forehead, temples or the back of the head.
Stress and anxiety contribute to TMJ pain by causing muscle tension in the jaw area. Bruxism is a common condition where you grind or clench your teeth unconsciously. This repetitive strain of the temporomandibular joints can lead to inflammation and pain. Signs of bruxism include waking up with a sore jaw or headaches. Stress management techniques can help reduce the frequency of jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
Poor posture, particularly when you are hunched over or leaning your neck forward can strain your neck and the muscles around your jaw and exacerbate TMD symptoms. Maintaining an upright posture as often as possible, by keeping your chest up, shoulders relaxed, and ears over your shoulders can decrease your neck and jaw pain, especially while sitting and working.
TMD can also be worsened by consistently using straws, chewing gum, or chewing tough, hard or sticky foods. Diet adjustments can help by incorporating softer, nutritious foods; if you can cut through your food with a fork, it is soft enough. Avoid jaw-straining habits, such as biting your nails, chewing on pen caps or resting your chin on your hand while reading or watching television. Breaking these habits can protect your jaw and avoid TMD pain.
What does treatment look like?
Treatment must address the root cause. Depending on the contributing factors, treatment can include: jaw exercises and stretches, massage, manipulation and dry needling. Some patients who come in with TMD issues are hypermobile and need stability in their muscles in their jaw and neck with more exercise. Others present as tight and stiffer and need more mobility work done such as internal jaw mobilizations, neck mobilization/manipulation and soft tissue work around the jaw and neck.
TMJ pain varies from person to person and can take up to a year to fully resolve. Most people attain pain relief within the first few treatments. Our goal at Refuge Physiotherapy is not only to eliminate your pain, but to educate and guide you in the management of your jaw pain until full resolution is achieved.
Call us at 970-567-9884 with any questions about TMD. If you have been experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or difficulty chewing or opening your mouth, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to helping you feel better and achieve long-lasting relief!
