Chiropractic Treatment for TMJ: The Facts You Need to Know
About 12% of people living in the United States have TMJ at some point in their lifetime. The symptoms that come with this disorder can be life-altering. And, it can seem like there won't be an end to the pain that you're facing.
However, there is one way to tackle the symptoms of TMJ: chiropractic treatments.
Getting chiropractic treatment for TMJ is one of the best ways that you can take control of your pain and find relief from your symptoms.
If you're looking for TMJ pain relief, keep reading. We're going to talk all about what TMJ is and how a chiropractor can help you get the TMJ treatment you need.
What Is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular disorder. Although the technical acronym is TMD, the condition is popularly referred to as TMJ.
TMJ is a blanket term. This means that it represents/stands for multiple conditions that have somewhat similar symptoms.
Patients with any kind of acute or chronic inflammation of their temporomandibular joint may have the diagnosis of TMJ.
(Note: The temporomandibular joint is what connects your mandible/jaw bone to your skull. This joint is what allows your jaw to open and close.)
Due to the inflammation that comes with TMJ, many people cannot slide their jaw easily. This leads to a popping sensation in their jaw while trying to open and close their mouth.
How Do People Get TMJ?
The first thing to know is that TMJ is extremely common. It can occur due to a variety of reasons, including the following:
- Nail-biting
- Teeth grinding
- Joint damage/degeneration
- Jaw injuries
If you have a condition that causes joint or bone breakdown, you could experience TMJ as well.
If you do start experiencing the popping feeling that comes along with TMJ, you should talk to your physician about seeing a chiropractor. It may not be your first thought when it comes to TMJ pain relief, but chiropractic practice has been shown to help with the symptoms that come with TMJ.
Can a Chiropractor Help With TMJ?
The short answer is yes! Consistent chiropractic care can help with TMJ pain relief.
Chiropractors can get to the bottom of your TMJ pain. Rather than helping you cover up the pain, your chiropractor can help you solve the source of the pain.
And, one of the most common sources is the spine.
How Does the Spine Affect TMJ?
To understand this, you have to think about the structure of your body. Your back is made up of blocks that are called vertebrae. They stack on top of one another and run all the way from your pelvis to the base of your skull.
Between these vertebrae, there are discs that are supposed to keep these blocks in a line.
These vertebrae and discs are what are holding your skull up. In turn, it's also balancing your jaw.
If your spine isn't aligned correctly, this can cause problems with your skull and jaw. Over time, this malalignment can wear down your jaw and cause problems.
The jaw imbalance can put stress on the temporomandibular joint that helps your jaw move smoothly. In turn, the muscles in this area may tense up. Over time, this will fatigue your muscles.
After learning about this relationship between the spine and the jaw, it's easy to see how chiropractic treatment can be beneficial. Chiropractors have the education and experience necessary to get to the bottom of the most common TMJ problem: spinal malalignment.
What Does a Chiropractor Do to Relieve TMJ Pain?
As we discussed, the chiropractor is going to get to the bottom of your TMJ pain. In most cases, TMJ pain comes down to two possibilities:
- The spine that's holding the jaw up
- The muscles that surround the jaw
Once the chiropractor figures out which one of these options is causing your pain, he/she can work to correct the problem naturally. The goal is to get you the relief you need without having to rely on medication, oral appliances, or surgical procedures.
Using biology, anatomy, physiology, physics, and geometry, your chiropractor can determine the best way to physically manipulate your body in an attempt to relieve your TMJ pain.
It may not seem like a lot is happening when a chiropractor twists your spine, but each and every move they make is calculated. And, each licensed chiropractor is highly trained.
They know what they're doing. You just have to trust them to care for your TMJ pain.
What Happens When You See a Chiropractor for the First Time?
Your first appointment will be all about determining your current state of health. After assessing you and asking many questions about your current symptoms and conditions, your chiropractor will work to create a treatment plan that's right for you.
Some people may need chiropractic treatments multiple times a week while others may benefit from monthly maintenance. And, that timeline can change over time depending on how your body responds to the first few treatments.
You may or may not have your first chiropractic treatment during your first visit. This will depend on the amount of time that you have for the appointment and whether or not the chiropractor knows what kinds of movements would benefit you. They may want to do some research or consider different treatments before they decide on the regimen for you.
When you come in to see the chiropractor, make sure that you're knowledgeable about your symptoms and conditions. The more you know about your current state of health, the easier it will be for your chiropractor to give you the treatment that you need to get relief from TMJ pain.
Get Chiropractic Treatment for TMJ Pain
Seeing a chiropractor for TMJ pain is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. Chiropractic treatment for TMJ is commonly skipped in TMJ treatment, but it's one of the most beneficial treatments out there for the condition.
If you're interested in meeting with a chiropractor in St. Petersburg, Florida, get in touch with our team at Unify Chiropractic today.
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