At any given time, there are about 10 million Americans experiencing TMJ dysfunction. What are the symptoms of a problem with the temporomandibular joint? What can you do at home to ease the suffering and perhaps get a better night of sleep? Is there a way that you can find natural relief from this common ailment? We’re about to answer these important questions.
If there is something wrong with your TMJ, what are the primary indicators? Here are some of the most common TMJ dysfunction symptoms.
There is much more to a TMJ problem than just jaw pain. So how can you cope with the diverse symptoms this condition causes? In our next section, we’re going to look at some home remedies for you to try.
Here are a few things you can do at home to help mitigate the symptoms of a mild to moderate case of TMJ dysfunction.
While self-care at home can help to relieve pain, a chronic case of TMJ may require additional assistance. Where can you turn? One source that some are finding helpful is upper cervical chiropractic care. This makes more sense when you consider how the neck, jaw, and ears are all connected anatomically.
The top bone in the neck is called the atlas. This bone is responsible for balancing the head. It is also responsible for more than half of the range of motion you have in your head and neck. When the atlas is out of alignment, the surrounding soft tissue shifts. This can dramatically affect other bones, muscles, and nearby nerves.
For example, when the atlas is out of alignment, it can affect the ability of the ears to drain properly, leading to earaches. It can also throw off the proper alignment of the jaw and irritate the facial nerve. Additionally, a misaligned atlas may affect sleep because it can put pressure on the brainstem, which is responsible for the body’s involuntary processes, including going to bed and waking up.
Upper cervical chiropractors are subspecialists in the chiropractic field who focus on the atlas. Precise measurements are taken using diagnostic imaging, and this leads to very gentle adjustments that do not involve any twisting or “cracking” of the neck. As a result, adjustments are safe and long-lasting, giving the body the time it needs to heal naturally. For many patients experiencing TMJ along with an atlas misalignment, correcting this underlying issue has helped to relieve symptoms.
If this sounds like a natural therapy that you would like to try, contact a practitioner near you. You can locate one of our preferred doctors using the search feature on this website.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.