Got TMJ Pain? Here are all the ways to treat it!
TMJ pain / disorder is a common affliction that affects the jaw. What is the TMJ? The TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, AKA the jaw joint. It is where your jaw connects to your skull; it’s a hinge-like joint.
How do we know when it’s dysfunctional?
a normal functioning TMJ will glide smoothly as the mouth is opened or closed.
if you start experiencing pain in the joint or surrounding tissues, it is not functioning optimally.
the jaw may move left or right, or even lock when yawning.
clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening or closing the mouth is also a sign of dysfunction.
may experience headaches.
Luckily, there are many forms of treatment that you can use to help alleviate this type of pain. Below we will go through each treatment and how it can help with TMJ pain.
First up, Manual Therapy:
What is manual therapy? Manual therapy is joint, muscle, and tissue manipulation designed to improve mobility through hands-on movements, which is effective in improving musculoskeletal pain issues. This type of therapy provides benefits to the body through biomechanical as well as neurophysiological methods.
Manual therapy has been shown to help with TMJ pain because it improves mobility. Through manipulation of the soft tissue, joint mobility increases in the stiff joints and reduces muscle tension to allow muscles to revert back to a relaxed state. Manual therapy also helps to make sure that the jaw alignment is correct and that there are no structural alignment issues that could be contributing to TMJ pain.
Manual therapy can consist of general mobilization or soft tissue mobilization. General mobilization consists of manipulation of the muscles and bones to place them in the proper position. This can help loosen any tight and uncomfortable tissues surrounding the joint, improve mobility in the area, and align the muscles or joints back into functional position. While soft tissue mobilization consists of massage that could increase circulation, breakdown scar tissue and relax the muscles.
Next up, Intraoral / Buccal Massage:
Another form of general mobilization would be Intraoral / Buccal massage. This unique type of massage is characterized by massage inside the mouth (of course with a gloved hand), which means that the muscles are being manipulated with slow and gentle pressure. It is not painful or aggressive.
Onto, Trigger Point Dry Needling:
Another form of treatment that has been shown to alleviate TMJ pain is trigger point dry needling. It can cause a muscle spasm in the joint and encourage the muscle to return to a relaxed state. Releasing a muscle spasm can help pinpoint the small muscles that are contracting, causing headaches and pain, as well as a misaligned jaw. The process of dry needling (inserting a thin needle into the muscle, causing it to twitch rapidly) removes any compression that is putting pressure on the nerve, joint, or vascular tissue.
Finally, Acupuncture:
Acupuncture for TMJ pain is another useful form of treatment for TMJ pain as it can help with muscle relaxation and reduction of muscle spasms. Acupuncture needles are inserted around the ear, face, jaw and trigger points of the masseter muscle (the strongest muscle in the human body, you can feel it when you clench your teeth), the lateral pterygoid, the medial pterygoid, and the temporalis muscles. All the muscles that help you chew and grind food can trigger TMJ pain, which can then cause facial pain, headaches, and restriction of the jaw’s range of motion.
Acupuncture can help with these pain points by:
Relaxing the muscles and releasing endorphins and serotonin
Improving the range of motion of the muscles that open and close the jaw by using facial acupuncture points to stimulate the temporalis muscles
Decreasing inflammation
Helping the body cope with stress better
We suggest any of these treatments or a combination of them if you are suffering from TMJ pain. You are sure to experience relief. If you have further questions about any of these treatments or would like to schedule an appointment to tackle your TMJ pain, call us at (949) 300-2028 or email us at hi@ocwellstudio.com