Austin TMJ Treatment
Does your jaw pop, click or lock when you open your mouth too widely? Do you have pain in the jaw hinge, or what feels like a toothache when the dentist says your teeth are fine? Do you grind your teeth at night? These and other symptoms could be a sign of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. If left untreated, the disorder can get progressively worse and cause increasing discomfort. Luckily, you do have options for treating this tricky condition, including a natural way to adjust wayward bones and relax muscles. If you seek an Austin TMJ treatment that does not involve surgery or extensive dental work, chiropractic treatment can help.
TMJ: What It Is and How to Treat It
The temporomandibular joint connects each side of the jawbone to the skull via a complex arrangement of ligaments, cartilage, nerves and muscles. The joint allows for both back-to-front and side-to-side articulation, but a great many factors can upset its proper alignment and lead to problems. In some causes a sudden jolt or head trauma -- including the strain of holding your mouth open in the dentist’s chair -- can dislocate the joint, but many other cases have more subtle origins ranging from congenital conditions to spinal misalignments. It might seem odd that a spinal misalignment could cause such issues until you consider that the spine coordinates nerve signals for the entire body. Even a small misalignment in the back or neck can create muscle strain and nerve pressure in other parts of the body, including the jaw.
The problems caused by this disorder can extend far beyond simple pain and jaw trouble. The affected nerve branches also serve other parts of the face and head, so you may experience headaches, earaches, throat pain, dizziness, eye problems and more. Your quality of life could continue to sink unless you do something about the problem. And that is where our qualified chiropractor steps in.
The Austin Chiropractic Option
While Austin TMJ sufferers try everything from tooth capping to jawbone surgery in their desperate quest for relief, we recommend that you consult our chiropractor first. Our chiropractor, Dr. Wendee Whitehead, can detect any spinal misalignments or tension in muscular “trigger points” that may be causing or aggravating your condition. A series of precisely applied chiropractic adjustments can then shift misaligned bones, relaxing the supporting muscles and releasing impinged nerves. We can also massage those tense muscles that encourage your jaw to clench. Occasional maintenance treatments can then help you keep the condition under control. We will even advise you on lifestyle changes that can help you reduce your overall stress levels, since stress is a major factor in such disorders.
If you live in the Austin area and you are ready to get real help from our chiropractor for this potentially devastating health issue, contact our chiropractic office today to arrange an appointment. Call us at 512-368-4960 today.
