TMJ and Chiropractic
If you place your fingers in front of each ear and open your jaw, you’ll feel lots of wiggling. This is where your skull’s temporal bone attaches to your mandible (jaw): the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Lots of ligaments, cartilage, fascia, discs, muscles, nerves and blood vessels run in, around and through it.
That is why, when the TMJ joint is misaligned, you can have all kinds of problems: trouble opening the mouth wide, clicking or popping sounds, a locked jaw, headache, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), throat fullness, facial swelling, shoulder, cheek or jaw pain, neck ache, facial nerve pain, ear or eye pain, dental pain, nausea, blurred vision and dizziness. (1)
Spine and TMJ problems appear related and for that reason, more TMJ sufferers are benefiting from chiropractic care. (2) By relieving pressure on the spine and cranial bones, chiropractic may relieve or correct TMJ problems. (3) Conversely, an unhealthy skull/jaw alignment can put great stress upon the spinal column. There are documented cases of dental problems that, once corrected, have helped chiropractic patients to better hold their spinal adjustments. (4-5)
All TMJ sufferers need a chiropractic checkup. Anyone who has been to the dentist should follow up with a quick stop at their chiropractor.
Contact your Carlsbad Chiropractor, Dr. Jason Epeneter, today