BOYNTON BEACH CHIROPRACTOR MAY HELP TMJ

Having Trouble Opening Your Mouth? It Could be TMJ. What would you think if you woke up with a painful and stiff jaw, or you find you cannot open your mouth at all? Probably the first thing that springs to mind is lockjaw! However, lockjaw is another name for tetanus and is caused by a bacterial toxin, so chances are greater that you are experiencing TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.

Do not panic. People who suffer from TMJ can find relief with chiropractic treatment. Before we explain how chiropractic care can help, we want you to understand more about TMJ.

What is TMJ?

TMJ refers to conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint in the jaw. It is the joint that connects with your skull. Muscles and ligaments control the movement of your jaw, so if there is a problem with the muscles and ligaments, it affects the jaw and the joint function.

Symptoms of TMJ

There are several common symptoms of TMJ depending on the progress and severity of the condition. They include:

• Pain in your jaw, cheek, teeth, or front of the ear when you chew or yawn
• Clicking noises in your jaw
• Inability to open your mouth wide
• Your jaw locks when opened wide
• Upper and lower teeth are not properly aligned when your mouth is closed
• Headaches
• Hearing problems
• Dizziness
• Earaches

Causes of TMJ

There are many reasons to cause you to experience TMJ. Some include:

• Serious jaw trauma
• Jaw dislocation
• Long periods of holding your mouth open wide
• Physical or emotional stress

Stress alone does not cause TMJ. However, if you tend to clench your teeth when you are awake or asleep, the continual stress on the muscles and ligaments may end up triggering TMJ. Sadly, statistics show that women are four times more likely to suffer from TMJ than men. That does not mean men are seldom affected.

Like other joints in your body like your back or neck, our experienced chiropractors can help when you have a problem in your jaw joint. Our Boynton Beach chiropractors with the MDR Advanced Medical Associates team will consult with you to determine the root cause(s) for the problem and create an individual and thorough treatment plan for you.

The chiropractic treatment plan is designed to address the underlying cause of the problem, restore normal jaw function, and relieve your discomfort. Chiropractic treatment for TMJ often includes a variety of options such as:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Special exercises
• Heat therapy
• Cold laser therapy
• Rapid release therapy

If you find you have symptoms of TMJ, contact MDR Advanced Medical Associates as soon as possible. Our team is here to answer your questions and get you on the road to recovery.