Chiropractic Treatment for TMJ in Franklin, TN
Chiropractic is considered one of the best ways to naturally address and effectively treat musculoskeletal issues such as lower back pain, neck pain, and headaches. But did you know that 12% of the population has TMJ at any given time? After low back pain, TMJ is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) is a condition that affects the jaw joint, which controls the opening and closing of the mouth. Since it is a hinge joint, it moves back and forth in a single direction. The joint is in front of the ear, where the mandible bone meets the skull’s temporal bone. There is a disc between these two bones made of fibrocartilage that cushions and supports the joint. Once the mouth opens, the disc slides forward with the joint to maintain support and comfort with this motion. If TMJD occurs, the disc is displaced from its natural place, leading to discomfort and further issues.
Some common symptoms of TMJ are jaw clicking/popping, issues chewing or talking, and possibly neck pain or headaches. It can be caused by stress, muscle tension, internal joint disorder, or dislocated or displaced discs. It could also be due to degenerative joint disease, like arthritis. You can manage the pain by eating softer foods, avoiding caffeine, icing, heating, soft tissue massage, and jaw stretches and exercises.
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to help guide that joint back into its normal place. Instead of surgery, splints, or injections, chiropractic’s non-invasive method gets to the root cause of the issue instead of masking it. Our goal at Mission Health Center is to support your body to heal itself by addressing the real issue so you can experience a full, abundant life!
How We treat TMJ in Franklin, TN
Comprehensive Exam
One of the first things we do at Mission Health Center in Franklin, TN, is to meet with you to discuss your case and get to know your story. This will help us begin to identify the root cause of your TMJ issues and establish the appropriate goals for your case. Once we have reviewed your case, we will determine if an examination is warranted. Our comprehensive examination includes specific chiropractic function, orthopedic, and neurological tests performed to help us understand and get to the root cause. This will help us determine the best course of action in helping your jaw become realigned so as not to experience more TMJ discomfort.
When any spinal vertebra or joint jars out of its correct position, it can cause pressure on a nerve called a subluxation. Chiropractors are experts in finding and correcting those spinal and joint misalignments that can cause nerve irritation and swelling. TMJ can be painful and affect your overall quality of life – who wants that? Through specific adjustments, our doctors can alleviate the pressure on that jaw joint which will help to reduce the pain and allow your body to heal naturally.
Specific Chiropractic Care
At Mission Health Center, we take a holistic approach when addressing TMJ conditions. Because everything is connected, we look specifically at your cervical spine to understand what could be misplaced and contributing to your TMJ discomfort. Similar to the spine, TMJ is a joint where two bones meet by way of a fibrocartilage disc. If the joint or disc are out of alignment, gentle chiropractic manipulations to that area can help relieve the pain. We use an Arthrostim device to perform this adjustment which is effective and non-invasive for the patient.
Chiropractors are trained experts in finding and correcting these misalignments caused by TMJ issues, so it does not lead to further nerve irritation or neck pain. Misalignments in the cervical spine can worsen TMJ conditions by adding neck pain and headaches. Subluxations are spinal misalignments that are resolved through specific adjustments. Our doctors can adjust the cervical spine to help align all the joints, muscles, and nerves in the cervical spine, ultimately reducing irritation and inflammation. This will also allow for movement of the mouth joint and relieve TMJ discomfort.
Stress Management
TMJ and stress are directly related, so implementing techniques to help your body relax and reduce stress is very important to get your symptoms under control. Exercising, stretching, prayer, meditation, and deep breathing are a few methods that can help you sleep better and reduce TMJ pain. Sleep is vital for allowing time for your body to heal and control inflammation and stress; make sure you sleep 7-8 hours a night! If you are having issues sleeping, try changing your pillow, so it provides support between your neck and shoulders. You can also drink a hot cup of chamomile tea to relax, use lavender essential oil to help wind down, or meditate to help slow your mind before bed.
Besides stretching and strengthening your jaw muscles, regular exercise for your whole body is a wonderful natural stress reducer. It helps lower inflammation, balance blood sugar, and improve sleep. Aim for 30-60 minutes most of the week.
Nutrition and Supplements
It has been proven that eating a diet consisting of processed foods and excess sugars can cause high levels of inflammation in the body making your muscles more susceptible to pain and misalignments. Inflammation can reduce your range of motion, causing issues eating and decreasing your body’s ability to adapt quickly to recover from the stress of TMJ.
Some of the common foods that induce inflammation are chemically sprayed produce, alcohol, packaged snacks, excess sugar, processed meats, and conventional dairy. Too much caffeine can also negatively affect TMJ since it is a stimulant and can increase muscle tension. Consuming a nutrient-dense diet, including anti-inflammatory foods, is vital for decreasing inflammation and improving your body’s ability to heal from the inside out. Eating soft vs. chewy or hard foods allows your jaw to take a break and heal. Avoid all chewing gums!
Some of the best anti-inflammatory foods that can help reduce inflammation in joints are: soft foods that are chewed easily (soups, stews, smoothies, cooked or steamed veggies); omega-3 foods such as coconut oil, wild-caught fish; soft protein sources like eggs, raw dairy, or protein shakes that include collagen since it helps rebuild cartilage; foods high in electrolytes (steamed broccoli, berries, leafy greens, mashed sweet potatoes); and green tea and herbs like turmeric and raw garlic.
A few great supplements to help decrease inflammation and reduce pain are turmeric, ginger, omega 3s, magnesium, potassium, and collagen.
Common TMJ Symptoms
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain is the most common symptom of TMJ, which usually shows up as a deep ache in your jaw or ear or facial pain. Since our jaws move so much for chewing, talking, or laughing, TMJ pain is typically constant. Therefore, the jaw must be aligned to be in optimal working condition!
There can be multiple reasons for jaw pain, but one frequent offender is having dental work done since your mouth stays open for a long period. This causes a lot of stress on the jaw muscles around each joint. Another frequent reason is trauma like a motor vehicle accident which can lead to the jaw sustaining damage.
Jaw Popping and Clicking
These terms reference the audible sound that comes with jaw movement when you open and close your mouth. It can be painful when the sound occurs and also quite annoying.
The sound happens when the jaw moves over a displaced disc. If the disc is too far forward, opening and closing the mouth will cause the mandible to contact the disc, making an audible sound. The disc must be placed in its correct position between the mandible and temporal bones so that the TMJ can move smoothly and how it is supposed to.
Jaw Locking
In more serious conditions, the TMJ articular disc will displace so far forward that it blocks the mandible from moving forward and opening fully. This “locks” the jaw and prevents proper range of motion, which can be super painful and affect a person’s quality of life. Eating, laughing, talking, etc., can become very difficult.
To address a locked jaw, the muscles around it need to relax. Heat and gentle massage can help ease the tension restricting the joint’s movement. Once the muscles relax, they can aid the joint and disc in getting back into alignment, and the jaw can resume functioning as normal.
Jaw Clenching
For some people, clenching their jaw is a chronic issue leading to a TMJ condition. Biting the teeth together with force clenches the jaw and can lead to extreme discomfort if left unaddressed. Stress and anxiety are two main reasons people clench their jaw; it can even occur in their sleep!
Prolonged clenching causes muscle tension and adhesions to develop around the TMJ muscles. This tension can become a more significant issue leading to headaches and pain. Performing stress-relieving activities such as yoga, prayer, or deep breathing can help reduce one’s overall stress and can lead to less jaw clenching.
Difficulty Chewing
It is not ideal to limit the types of food you eat because you cannot chew them! With so much muscle tension built up around the jaw, it fatigues the joint much quicker, making it difficult to chew food so it can be digested properly. This seriously affects a person’s quality of life. It is vital to understand the underlying cause of any TMJ symptom. Proper adjustments can help restore the motion if it is a locked jaw. Our doctors will help get to the root cause so you can get back to living your life fully!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic help with TMJ?
Absolutely! At Mission Health Center, we understand how to diagnose, treat, and manage all TMJ disorders. We have seen excellent results for people who have started care with us to help resolve their root cause issues.
How do you permanently fix TMJ?
The way we fix TMJ dysfunction is to restore the temporomandibular joints to their range of motion and ensure the muscles around the jaw are strengthened and stretched appropriately. Things can happen in life that can lead to these issues recurring, such as a car accident or dentist visit. If this becomes the case, we will follow the same treatment protocols to restore TMJ to optimal function.
Can a chiropractor crack jaws?
Our doctors can safely manipulate the temporomandibular joint to improve the range of motion and relieve pain. We use an Arthrostim device that uses pulse movements to help adjust the jaw joint. It is comfortable and naturally effective.
What happens if TMJ is left untreated?
If any problem in our body is left unaddressed, it will worsen over time. The jaw muscles will tighten and have difficulty moving to perform everyday functions. It could worsen to the point of becoming locked, create pain in the neck, ear, and face, or even lead to chronic headaches. The discomfort tells us something is out of place and shouldn’t be ignored. Today is a great day to do something about TMJ pain if you are experiencing it.
Can you fix TMJ without surgery?
Yes! Using the best muscle and adjustment techniques, most cases of TMJ issues can be corrected without medications, surgeries, or injections. There are rare cases requiring these methods, but overall, we can improve TMJ dysfunction naturally with conservative treatment measures. Our doctors have experience and are trained to help you get relief from TMJ conditions.