A lot of us experience from unceasing headaches, jaw or ear pain. Though these symptoms can have many causes, one that is often overlooked is a misalignment of the jaw often referred to as TMJ dysfunction.

What does TMJ Stand for?

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is comprised of the joining of the mandible or jawbone, and the skull. These complex joints are one of the most frequently used joints in your body! Like other joints in your body, this joint is a hinge type joint and is susceptible to failure.

Joint Noise

TMJ dysfunction can cause popping, clicking or grinding noises when the jaw is opened and closed. Other signs include sharp or dull and constant discomfort each time you swallow, yawn, talk, or chew. The discomfort may be localized over the joint, immediately in front of the ear, but can also branch out to the temple, cheek, lower jaw and teeth. Some sufferes experience ringing in their ears or an experience a headache that does not improve with over the counter medications.

Causes of TMJ Dysfunction

Excessive use of any joint can cause joint dysfunction, and the jaw joint is no exception. Often without realizing it, many of us clench our jaws and grit our teeth in an unconscious response to stress in our daily lives. This chronic clenching can cause the muscles to be overused resulting in misalignments of the joint.

TMJ dysfunction can also be occur from a variety of other causes. Simple activities, like excessive gum chewing, fatigues the jaw and strains the muscles and tendon attachments and may bring about TMJ dysfunction. Or, it may be caused by trauma to the neck, as in a car crash, where your head is suddenly thrown backwards, which stretches the muscles under the jaw to the limit and may sprain many of the tiny ligaments that attach the jaw to the skull.

TMJ Dysfunction: Not a New Phenomenon

Dentists have long known that TMJ dysfunction can also cause many diverse symptoms. Interestingly, these can be far removed from the jaw joint itself. In fact, evidence also shows TMJ can cause functional problems throughout the body. Headaches, neck pain, and pain across the shoulders are often relieved after TMJ dysfunction is corrected.

Do the Snap, Crackle, Pop Test

Your TMJ joint is easily checked by placing your fingers on the joints that are located just in front of your ears, and opening and closing your jaw as if you were chewing. If you notice anything other than smooth movement, your TMJ may have problems.

A properly working jaw joint works smoothly and silently, but if there are issues, you may notice clicking or popping when the joint moves. Sometimes you can even hear some grinding within your head as you open and shut your jaw. The existence of any of these sounds may indicate an abnormally working joint.

What If I Flunked The Test?

Any unusual noises in our jaws is not something to live with, and a professional evaluation is the best thing to have done.

Lack of attention to these symptoms has resulted in a great deal of suffering for patients as they began experiencing from chronic headaches and unrelieved jaw pain. The worst case scenarios that often occur secondary to delayed treatment involves surgery, all which could have been prevented with early treatment.

Can I Get Better Again?

Hope lies in seeking evaluation and treatment from your dentist or favorite chiropractor. Your dentist?s treatment may include a mouth splint that prevents you from being able to grind your teeth, which can alleviate the issue. The chiropractic assessment is an important part of TMJ treatment. While the mouth guard helps the teeth grinding component, it does not address the muscular issues that often accompany TMJ dysfunction.

Leave It to the ARTist

ART or Active Release Technique, is a very effective tool utilized by chiropractic to treat active TMJ. The technique involves therapy that stimulates muscles and ligaments to function properly. ART is an effective technique that has been shown to be effective in scar tissue removal. Scar tissue within muscles affects their ability to function correctly and its removal results in restoration of form and function of the muscle tissue.

TMJ suffers are not alone!

If you are suffering from popping, grinding, clicking in your jaw joints, do not delay your assessment with a chiropractor. The chiropractor can help you to find out the cause of the TMJ, and help you to address it, resulting in a pain free YOU!

If you are looking for a Houston Clear Lake chiropractor, contact Dr. Alice Sexton at HealthSource of Clear Lake. Dr. Sexton can help remove your headaches. For a limited time only, Dr. Sexton is providing a 50% discount an initial examination. Call 281-286-2229 to confirm your examination today.