Treating Jaw Pain

One of the most over used joints in our body is the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ joint for short).

The TMJ joint and the ligaments and muscles that surround it connect the lower jaw to the skull.

These muscles and ligaments stretch and strain as they provide movement to talk, chew and clench.

When the TMJ joint becomes overworked and tight it can lead to what’s called a TMJ dysfunction.

What Causes TMJ Dysfunction?

Emotional & physical stress
Grinding or clenching teeth
Injuries or fractures of the joint
Missing teeth, poorly shaped teeth
Crowns or bridges
Degenerative diseases such as arthritis

Common Signs & Symptoms

Reduced movement of the jaw
Difficulty opening the mouth
Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
Pain when chewing or opening wide
Ear-aches
Loss of hearing or ringing in the ear
Neck and shoulder pain
Migraine headaches

How is TMJ Diagnosed?

X-Ray is used to rule out arthritis and other causes.

An assessment may include:

Assessing movement and the presence of clicking.
The measure finger test.
Palpating the jaw, shoulders and neck for tenderness

4 Tips To Treat TMJ pain

Treat the underlying cause
Manage stress using strategies like Chinese herbal medicine
Begin treatment with Acupuncture
Apply for an appointment here

David L. Edwards is an author, Chinese medicine physician and licensed acupuncturist. He is the author of The Body Fat Formula and The Pocketbook guide to Chinese medicine and painless cures (available on amazon). David is the creator of Barefoot Health and Wellness health programs.

Apply for an assessment here

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References

Porter, Kaplan (editors). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 19th ed. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, N.J. 2011.
The Practice of Chinese medicine, second edition. Giovanni Maciocia. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.