If you don’t have issues with your jaw, most of us don’t even give it a second thought, but suffering from TMJ pain can cause havoc on your daily life. Many of our patients who suffer from TMD have complained that it’s worsened by stress. Stress can cause you to clench your teeth at night or even during the day, increasing your pain, which in turn, can increase your stress to rise creating a viscous cycle that never seems to end. Finding relief can seem almost impossible.
The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull, and it’s a joint that we use ALL the time for chewing and talking. With almost constant use, it’s no wonder that it can cause some much trouble. The pain from TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder) can range from mild facial and jaw pain or pressure to severe migraines, nausea, difficulty chewing, sleep disturbances, and more. What’s worse is that if you suffer from TMD, you might not even realize that your jaw or the temporomandibular joint could be the problem.
We’ve seen patients at the end of their ropes dealing with TMD. If you’ve seen a doctor, you may have been prescribed pain medication, a night guard, or even physical therapy and sometimes the pain or other symptoms persist. But have you ever considered chiropractic care as a treatment? Most of us think of chiropractic care to treat our neck, spine and muscles, but it can also be extremely helping in treating TMD. It’s also something that can be added to what you are already doing because the technics are helpful in a non-invasive and harmless way.
If you’re wondering how on earth your jaw can be adjusted, it’s not the same as your spine or back. Dr. Hannah uses a combination of soft tissue therapy, diversified technique (manual adjusting), and activator techniques to help bring you relief.
If you’ve been suffering with TMD, we’d love the opportunity to help you feel your best again and while you wait for your appointment here are some additional things you that you can do to help relieve TMD pain:
- Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth by keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Wear a nightguard to protect your teeth from damage even during the day if needed.
- Get regular exercise. Exercise can help to reduce stress and improve overall health, which can both help to relieve TMD pain.
- Get enough sleep. When you are well-rested, your body is better able to heal and repair itself.
- Manage stress. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but stress contributes to TMD pain. It’s important to find ways to manage stress like trying relaxation exercises, meditation, and yoga. You can even try some simple breathing techniques or take a ten-minute break to reset.
We believe that your body is capable of healing itself, but sometimes it needs a little help to do its job. Everybody is different, which is why every new patient receives a customized treatment plan that includes adjustments, soft tissue work, and many other modalities that help your body heal so you can feel your best again!
Chiropractic care is a great treatment for TMD and we’re here to help.
New Patients | What to Expect | Dakota Chiropractic | Apple Valley Clinic (dakotachiroclinic.com)
