Can a Chiropractor Help with TMJ?
From neck pain to sore joints and muscles, many physical ailments benefit from chiropractic treatment. Many people suffering from various ailments wonder, “Can a chiropractor help with TMJ?” The good news is that the answer is yes!
Temporomandibular joint disorders, or TMJ for short, cause a wide range of pain beyond your mouth. Relieving stress and realigning your spine helps you feel better and experience a better quality of life. Professional chiropractic services in Woodstock from Ribley Family Chiropractic can help you with TMJ issues and the underlying causes.
What Is TMJ?
TMJ typically appears as a symptom started by various other health problems and causes pain in different areas, mainly in the hinge of your jaws. Teeth grinding related to stress or sleep disorders, involuntary teeth clenching, or jaw, head, or neck injuries may all spur the development of TMJ. Patients suffering from TMJ may not realize that other daily pain results from their disorder, such as:
- Neck, jaw, or ear pain
- Sore teeth
- Mouth popping or clicking
- Sore shoulders
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Trouble chewing
- Arm and hand numbness
- Jaw tenderness
- High-stress levels
- Trouble sleeping
How Can a Chiropractor Help with TMJ?
Those suffering from TMJ don’t often consider visiting a chiropractor; however, chiropractors have the specialized knowledge and training to help patients find relief. So, how can a chiropractor help with TMJ?
Regular chiropractic visits decrease the pain associated with TMJ by realigning your spine and helping you stretch and relax your muscles. During a chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor can pinpoint underlying causes, develop a plan to relieve them, and perform exercises specifically designed to target TMJ pain and the sources of the disorder.
Depending on the severity of your temporomandibular joint disorder, your chiropractor may give you TMJ chiropractic homework so you can continue to keep your jaws loose between visits:
Stress Management
A significant contributor to TMJ pain, addressing stress before it causes jaw clenching or grinding helps you stop the problem before it begins.
Exercise 1
Lean back in your chair or lie on a bed. Close your eyes, then inhale slowly and evenly until you fill your chest. Slowly exhale for the same amount of time that you inhaled, then repeat as needed.
Exercise 2
Rest your entire body on a sofa, chair, or bed. Focus on different muscles in your body and tense them up, hold it for about ten seconds, then gently release and move on to the next muscle.
TMJ Pain Reduction
Besides lowering your stress levels, you can also practice these easy exercises to keep a comfortable jaw between chiropractic visits.
Temperature Therapy
Place an ice pack over your jaw for 20 minutes. Some patients find relief by switching between heat and cold every 15 minutes.
Over-the-Counter Medicines
Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and similar medicines help reduce pain associated with TMJ.
Self-Massages
When your jaw begins to ache, rub your face gently at the source of the pain to help relieve the tension.
Professional TMJ Treatment at Ribley Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA
If you’re searching for “How can a chiropractor help with TMJ?” you likely already feel the pain of temporomandibular joint disorders. Fortunately, the professionally-trained chiropractors at Ribley Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA, can help you relax your jaw and relieve aches and pains associated with TMJ. Call to book your TMJ appointment today