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 SYMPTOMS: Many people have jaw pain, ear pain and headaches thinking that they "just have to live with the pain." One often-overlooked cause for chronic headaches is a mis-alignment of the jaw, more properly known as the temporo-mandibular joint. Symptoms that might indicate a possible TMJ problem can be painful clicking noises when opening or closing the mouth, pain in the jaw when chewing, headaches that do not improve with over the counter medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
CAUSES: Everyday stress causes people to clench their teeth. Clenching the teeth repetitively over time alters the normal mechanics of the jaw causing mis-alignments in the joint. Chewing gum is also a major culprit as it fatigues the jaw. Prolonged opening, for example, during dental work, can also cause TMJ problems. Lastly, trauma to the neck such as whiplash from a car accident can oftentimes, adversely impact the jaw. When a person is in a rear-end collision, the head is thrown backwards causing the muscles underneath the jaw to be stretched to the maximum. Tiny ligaments that attach the jaw to the skull are also sprained. Combined together, this causes the jawbone to dislocate from the skull.
TREATMENT: Your doctor of chiropractic can help alleviate jaw pain. Manual adjustments to the jaw can remove joint dysfunction. Massage therapy can help eliminate tight muscles. In addition, electrical stimulation may be applied to the cheek muscles to reduce pain, improve range of motion and relax tight muscles. Also, a mouth splint may be recommended to prevent night grinding. Lastly, correcting the mechanics of the neck and jaw through chiropractic spinal adjustments will help minimize and/or eliminate headaches and jaw pain. If necessary, a referral can be made to a dentist specializing in TMJ dysfunction.
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