Cumming Chiropractic Center

299 Canton Rd

Cumming, GA 30040 USA

770-889-2208

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Our Wellness Partners
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • What To Expect
      • Your First Visit
      • Phase 1: Relief Care
      • Phase 2: Corrective Care
      • Phase 3: Wellness Care
    • Virtual Office Tour
    • Health Resources
    • Payment Options
  • Conditions Treated
    • Back Pain
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Hiatal Hernia-Reflux
    • Ileocecal Valve
  • Services & Techniques
    • Auto Accident Injury Treatment
      • Auto Accident FAQs
    • Eustachian Tube and Chiropractic
    • Pediatric
    • Personal Injury
  • Contact Us
  • Office Hours
  • Community Content
  • Blog
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • Jaw Pain? You May Have TMJ

Jaw Pain? You May Have TMJ

  • Created in Newsletter Library

Woman with jaw pain

Got Jaw Pain? You May Have TMJ

Frequent jaw pain can be a symptom of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), a condition that affects the joints in your jaw. Chiropractic treatments offer an effective way to ease TMJ pain and relieve jaw stiffness and other symptoms.

How TMJ Affects Your Jaw

Jaw joints make it possible to open and close your mouth when you chew, speak, and swallow. These joints are located on either side of your face just below your ears. TMJ, also called TMD (temporomandibular disorder) occurs when structures in and around the joints become inflamed, sore, or misaligned.

TMJ may affect the bones or discs in the joints or the muscles, ligaments, and tissues that help the jaw move smoothly. This painful condition affects 10 to 35 million Americans, according to the TMJ Association. Women are also more likely to develop TMJ than men.

TMJ symptoms include:

  • Pain in the Jaw, Face, or Ears
  • Jaw Stiffness
  • Difficulty Moving or Opening and Closing Your Jaw
  • Clicking or Popping Sounds When You Move Your Jaw
  • Bite Changes
  • Dizziness
  • Ringing in the Ears
  • Hearing Loss
  • Headaches
  • Tight Neck, Face, Head, and Shoulder Muscles
  • Facial Swelling

TMJ Causes

Although it's not always possible to determine why you have TMJ, the condition may be caused by:

  • A Jaw Injury
  • Grinding Your Teeth While You Sleep
  • Stress
  • Posture Issues
  • Arthritis
  • Connective Tissue Disorders, Including Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Although it was once believed that a bad bite could cause TMJ, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that research hasn't shown any link between TMJ and the way the teeth fit together.

Relieving Your TMJ Symptoms with Chiropractic Treatments

A subluxation, or misalignment of your spine, could be the reason that you're suffering from TMJ symptoms. Misalignments in the vertebrae in your back and neck can affect the position of your jaw. The vertebrae, a series of small bones in the back and neck that protect your spinal cord, allow you to bend and move easily. A subluxation not only affects a vertebra, but can also cause muscles and tissues to tighten. In some cases, subluxations press on nerves, causing or increasing pain.

Vertebrae often become misaligned due to injuries or posture issues. Holding your head downward to look at digital devices or slouching can can cause misalignments, as can your sleeping posture. If your pillow doesn't adequately support your head, you might develop a subluxation in your neck or jaw. Do you sleep with your hands under your chin? This habit could also be a contributing factor in jaw pain and TMJ.

Spinal manipulation, a type of chiropractic treatment, that corrects subluxations can ease your jaw pain. The treatment involves realigning the vertebrae with quick thrusts. Your chiropractor may use his or her hands or a special instrument to improve the alignment of your spine.

A jaw adjustment may be recommended if a misaligned joint is causing your pain. Using gentle pressure, your chiropractor stretches the joint slightly and eases it back into its usual position. In some cases, TMJ pain can also be due to tense muscles or trigger points in your jaw muscles. Trigger points are hard knots of tissue that send pain radiating through your jaw.

Your chiropractor may use massage or soft tissue mobilization to treat tight muscles and trigger points in the muscles in your jaw, neck, and shoulders. In addition to relieving muscle pain, massage also floods your body with dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. These hormones help you feel calm and relieve tension. If your TMJ is related to stress, regular massages can help you feel relaxed, reduce headaches, and keep your muscles loose.

Are you struggling with TMJ pain? Chiropractic treatment offers the ideal way to ease your jaw pain. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

TMJ Association: I've Got TMJ, Now What?

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: TMD

Medline Plus: TMJ Disorders, 1/24/2022

Chiropractic Economics: Using Chiropractic Instruments to Relieve TMJ, 7/26/2016

  • About Chiropractic Care
    • What is Chiropractic
    • How Does it Work
    • Who is Chiropractic For
    • Vertebral Subluxation
    • Wellness Resources
  • Common Conditions Treated
    • Auto Accident Injuries
    • Back and Shoulder Pain
    • Body Pain
    • Chronic Condition Relief
      • Conditions Affecting Women
      • Headaches
    • Herniated Discs
    • Improved Health
    • Pediatric Ailments
    • Repetitive Use Injuries
    • Respiratory Function
  • Health & Wellness
    • Healthy Thinking
      • Get Positive
      • Relaxation Techniques
    • Life in Motion
    • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
      • Treat Yourself Well
      • Treat Others Well
      • Eat Well
    • Wellness Essentials
      • At Home
      • At Work
      • Exercise
      • Nutrition
      • What You Wear
    • Wellness Perspectives
      • Mental
      • Spiritual
      • Social
      • Physical
  • Therapies & Techniques
    • Techniques
    • Therapies
  • Newsletter Library
    • Back, Body & Joint Pain
    • Healthy Tips
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Injury Rehab & Prevention
    • Kid's Health
    • Illness Prevention
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
    • Breaking Bad Habits
    • Senior Health
    • Weight Loss
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Wellness
    • Mind-Body Connection
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Life-Work Balance
    • Staying Young
    • Staying Motivated
  • Wellness4Kids

CONTACT US TODAY

We look forward to hearing from you

Featured Services

Click to Find Out More

Monday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

2:30 pm-6:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

Closed

Closed

Friday:

8:30 am-12:30 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "I was very impressed with the chiropractic care I received from Dr. Anderson. I had received chiropractic in the past for my neck pain, but not to this level of care. After only a few sessions, my symptoms began to disappear, especially my neck pain, and I know I would not have been able to perform to my everyday work functions without the treatment I received."
    Neck Pain
  • "I have benefitted tremendously from the chiropractic care I received from Dr. Anderson. Not only has the adjustments helped alleviate my stiffness and aches, but it has helped me have more energy and just feel more balanced over all. A few months ago, I was able to resume a favorite hobby of mine: golf. Due to my previous pain, I never thought that’d be possible."
    Back Pain
  • "Dr. Anderson has allowed me to be headache free for quite some time now. I used to have daily nagging headaches that often would turn into a migraine leaving me unable to function. For the longest time, I thought I could just keep taking medication to have the pain subside."
    Headaches

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

  • September Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Tendinitis

    Not sure what to do about tendinitis pain? Call your chiropractor! ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help with Chronic Pain

    Tired of living with chronic pain? Find out if chiropractic car can help. ...

    Read More
  • August Newsletter: Text Neck Syndrome: How Your Chiropractor Can Help

    Does your neck hurt when you use your cellphone? You could have text neck, one of the many conditions chiropractors treat. ...

    Read More
  • August Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Autoimmune Diseases

    Having trouble coping with autoimmune disease symptoms? Give your chiropractor a call. ...

    Read More
  • July Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help Relieve Migraines

    Wondering if chiropractic treatment could ease your migraine pain? ...

    Read More
  • July Newsletter: How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Could a visit to the chiropractor relieve your painful carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms? ...

    Read More
  • June Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

    Suffering from whiplash? Chiropractic care could ease your neck pain. ...

    Read More
  • June Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help with Knee Pain

    Have you considered chiropractic care for your knee pain? ...

    Read More
  • May Newsletter: Your Chiropractor Can Help You Recover from Sports Injuries

    Suffering from a sports injury? Find out how chiropractic can help. ...

    Read More
  • May Newsletter: Is Your Spine Ready for Summer?

    Would you like to avoid back pain this summer? ...

    Read More
No form settings found. Please configure it.

Follow Us

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map