Can a Chiropractor Help Me with Jaw Pain?

If you were asked to identify your joints, you may start with things like your knees, elbows, or even hips. But most people don’t think about the joint we use most often – our jaw. Also known as the temporomandibular joint, the jaw helps with talking, eating, drinking, and even maintaining proper sleep. So when you experience pain in this joint, it can have a profound negative impact on your entire life. Whether you are suffering from a condition like TMJ or more generalized jaw pain, a Charlotte chiropractor can help.

THE ESSENTIAL ANATOMY OF THE JAW

When talking about the jaw, we are actually discussing the joint between the temporal bone (part of the skull) and the mandible. The joint includes a protuberance from the mandible, which fits into an opening in the temporal bone. The mandibular head glides smoothly within this opening when we open and close our mouths, allowing for actions like eating and talking.

However, when the jaw is somehow compromised, it can cause severe pain during these movements. It’s also common for there to be small growths on the bone that cause problems with movement, leading to a pinching of structures within the space. Some common causes of joint pain can include:

  • Traumatic injuries resulting from car accidents, falls, or sports injuries
  • Infections, often beginning in the teeth
  • TMJ, a condition that causes jaw clicking and catching
  • Misalignment of the jaw bones that leads to pressure

Even mild jaw pain can cause serious issues in your day-to-day life, which is why it’s important to find relief.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE AND THE JAW

When you visit Greater Life Chiropractic, our goal is to help identify any misalignments in the spine and remove them. Though the jaw is not part of the spine, it is a joint that is severely impacted by both the spine itself and the nerves surrounding it. When the spine is returned to alignment, nerve conduction improves and can allow the jaw to heal and function more easily.

In fact, studies have shown that regular chiropractic adjustments are effective for treating a range of temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms. One 30-year-old woman had suffered from jaw pain for seven 7 years as a result of severe dental issues. The pain was so severe that she even suffered related shoulder pain and headaches, as well as problems with her hearing in one ear. When medical treatments did not work, she underwent chiropractic care and massage therapy, which led to almost a complete resolution of her symptoms.

CHARLOTTE CHIROPRACTIC CARE CAN HELP RELIEVE JAW PAIN

Jaw pain is often assumed to be TMJ, which is a very common disorder. But over 10 million people suffer from some form of jaw dysfunction, and it is critical to get to the root cause of that issue and manage it appropriately.

In the same way that others have found relief, Dr. Grant Lisetor can help you to be free from jaw pain. Visit Greater Life Chiropractic to begin working with us today.

Sources

DeVocht, J.W., Schaeffer, W., Lawrence, D.J. “Chiropractic treatment of temporomandibular disorders using the activator adjusting instrument and protocol.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2005 Nov-Dec; 11(6): 70-3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16320863/  

Pavia, S., Fischer, R., Roy, R. “Chiropractic Treatment of Temporomandibular Dysfunction: A Retrospective Case Series.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 2015 Dec; 14(4): 279–284. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4688559/