Can A Chiropractor Fix TMJ Pain?

The popularity of chiropractors continues to grow daily as more people begin to realize the importance to total body health. Along with a good diet and exercise, Chiropractic care plays an instrumental role in maintaining good health by keeping the spine and nervous system operating like a well oiled machine.

Consequently, chiropractors can help relieve the intense pain associated with TMJ or Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction.

Most people never think about it, but the ability to speak, chew and swallow or even yawn is a result of the jaw acting as a hinge to connect the mandible with the skull.

TMJ can be a very serious problem and can be caused by such things as teeth grinding, habitual gum chewing, dental problems, stress, injury, or arthritis. TMJ results when the jaw joint becomes displaced or the surrounding muscles or tendons are irritated. The results are pain and tenderness of the jaw muscle, inability to open the jaw, chew or talk, headaches, dizziness, and/or muffled hearing.

A chiropractor can help with treating TMJ in two ways:

• Providing Chiropractic adjustments to the neck and/or jaw
• Recommending special exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes to help speed healing and prevent a relapse.

Chiropractors work to solve problems caused from TMJ by implementing a detailed study of the spine, followed by individual treatment once they have made a diagnosis. Treatment usually includes adjusting the neck or jaw. Chiropractors are very successful treating TMJ. Relief can be immediate or may happen over time.

Chiropractors are concerned with not only treating patients until their pain dissipates, but also assuring their problems are permanently eliminated.

What are some of the philosophical elements associated with chiropractic care? Among them:

1. Naturalism
2. Rationalism
3. Holism

Chiropractic care focuses on the total human body, in the belief that is inter-related with both the environment and individuals’ lifestyles.

Chiropractors can recommend certain muscle spasm relieving exercises that help relax jaw muscles and provide relaxation. Meditation and massage are some of the other methodologies adopted by the chiropractor to treat patients.

In many cases, chiropractic care is proven to be more effective than drugs and medicines. Not only is it more effective, it helps patients through care that is gentler, cheaper, and does not include the potential for negative results later.

 Most people suffering from pain believe medication will provide quick relief for their problems. This is sometimes true, but medications only provide temporary relief of pain and do nothing to eliminate its causes. Medications may also result in harmful side-effects.

Surgery is another option for TMJ. But surgery can be costly, demand time away from work and other activities during recovery, and can be dangerous.