What are TMJ disorders? The TMJ or temporomandibular joint is similar to a sliding hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. There is one joint on each side of your jaw. When you have TMJ disorders (or TMD), you will have pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles controlling jaw movement.

Pinpointing the cause of TMJ disorders can be difficult. Pain is often due to a variety of factors such as genetics, an injury to the jaw, or arthritis. It may also be an end result of someone clenching or grinding their teeth.

Most of the time, TMJ disorders can be dealt with easily because they are usually temporary. Home remedies or other non-surgical care can often help. Surgery is only suggested as a last resort when all other forms of therapy have failed. But before considering surgery, continue reading this article for a natural solution proven to work.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

You may have some of the following symptoms if you have a TMJ disorder:

• Aching facial pain
• Problems with chewing and/or pain while chewing
• Pain in one or both temporomandibular joints
• Locking of the joint, causing you to have problems opening or closing your mouth
• Pain or tenderness in your jaw
• Aching pain in or around your ear

You may also notice a clicking sound or a feeling of grating when you open your mouth or chew. However, if you have jaw clicking and no pain or limitation of movement when you open your jaw, you probably do not need to be cared for in relation to TMJ disorders. If you do have tenderness or pain in your jaw, or you cannot open or close your jaw entirely, you may need to look into having further care.

What Causes TMJ Disorders

Taking a closer look at how the jaw functions can help us have insight into how TMD develops. The joint is like a hinge with sliding motions. The bones that interact in the joint are protected by cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk to keep the movement smooth. If any of the following happen, you can develop TMJ disorders:

• The joint becomes damaged due to a blow or other impact.
• The disks of the jaw begin to wear out or move out alignment.
• The cartilage of the joint becomes damaged.

However, in many cases, the cause of TMJ disorders are unknown.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and TMJ, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Who Is at Risk?

You may be more likely to develop TMJ disorders if you also suffer from certain kinds of arthritis (such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) or if you have ever had a jaw injury. If you are a long-term jaw clencher or grinder, you are at risk for TMJ disorders. Also, certain connective tissue diseases can negatively affect the temporomandibular joint.

Diagnosing TMJ Disorders

If you visit your local family physician for your TMJ disorder pain, he or she will probably feel your jaw when you open and close your mouth, along with listening for popping or cracking. Doctors will also take note of the range of motion in your jaw. They may press on certain areas around your jaw to locate the exact location of pain. In addition, the following tests may be ordered:

• Dental x-rays
• A CT scan
• An MRI
• A TMJ arthroscopy may be used (this is a small thin tube that goes into the joint space and takes pictures of the area)

Traditional Care for TMJ Disorders

Some doctors may recommend taking the following medications:

• Muscle relaxants: These drugs may be used for a few days to help relieve the pain of TMJ disorders.
• Tricyclic antidepressants: These medications include amitriptyline and are used for pain relief on occasion. Their main purpose is for depression, however.
• Anti-inflammatories and pain relievers: If you find that over-the-counter pain relievers are not doing a good job, your doctor or dentist may recommend stronger, prescription medications. A mainstay of care is non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Advil and Motrin IB (NSAIDs).

Some non-drug therapies exist as well:

• Physical therapy: This may include moist heat, ultrasound, and ice. Exercises to stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles are also involved.
• Counseling: Understanding why TMJ disorders happen and how certain behaviors can aggravate our pain can help you cope better. You will learn how to control teeth clenching, grinding, leaning on your chin, and biting your fingernails.

How Neck Misalignments Can Cause TMJ Disorders

The atlas, or C1 vertebra, is the top bone of the neck, and it is located close to the ear and jaw. It is susceptible to misaligning due to its mobility and shape. It only takes a mild blow to the head or neck, a serious fall, whiplash, or other trauma to the head to cause this bone to misalign. Even if it is misaligned by only ¼ of a millimeter, the rest of the body can pay the price. Facial nerves, the ear, and the jaw can be negatively impacted. Jaw alignment can become thrown off, inflammation can occur in the TMJ area, and muscles in this location can become irritated. All of this can lead to TMJ disorders.

Upper cervical chiropractors are specifically trained to find these misalignments and work at correcting the problem. We use special imaging methods to help us see the exact location of the misalignment. We then use a gentle, low-force correction to encourage the bone to move back into its original location. This can ease up the pain of TMJ disorders as the body begins to heal the damage done from the misalignment. Patients often feel some immediate relief and continued benefits over a period of time.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hall, call our Brentwood office at 615-488-7891 or just click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com