TMJD & Jaw pain
Do you have stress in your life? Do you grind or clench your teeth at night? Do you have jaw pain? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then keep reading! Jaw pain is all too common, and many of the imbalances in our bodies that cause this are very treatable. Jaw pain can originate from various areas of dysfunction in our body, including the joints themselves, but also from our cervical spine and many muscles in these areas.
There are two temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in our body, one on either side of the face. They exist where our lower jaw bone (mandible) meets a portion of our skull (temporal bone), just in front of the ear. Within the joint is a disc of cartilage that plays a key role in the (dys)function of the TMJ. The main functions of the TMJ are talking and grinding up food, but they are also involved in many other movements such as yawning and clenching our teeth. The TMJ is the most used joint in the body, up to 2,000 times per day, therefore it is very important to keep healthy. When the TMJ is functioning improperly, we call it TMJD: temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
One of the biggest culprits for jaw pain is stress. As mentioned in prior blog posts here, decreasing stress in our lives is easier said than done. From a holistic perspective, the best ways to do this are ensuring we prioritize quality sleep (7-9 hours is best for most adults), properly fuel our bodies through a balanced diet and sufficient hydration, participate in activities and hobbies that we enjoy, and move our bodies. In addition to external stressors impacting the TMJ, there are many internal stressors that can cause chaos as well.
Muscle imbalances can be a culprit of jaw pain due to overuse and habits such as grinding the teeth at night or biting our fingernails. There may be trigger points within these muscles and they can limit our range of motion. Did you know that you can get arthritis in your TMJ? Yes, just like any other joint in our bodies, the TMJ is susceptible to arthritis as well. Often people with arthritis here will have tender spots in front of and behind the joint, potential motion limitations, and possible grinding or crackling sounds throughout their range of motion. The jaw can also be stuck open or locked close if the disc gets out of its proper placement. Depending on the cause of your TMJ dysfunction you may experience symptoms such as an audible click with mouth opening and/or mouth closing, pain, your jaw making an “S” or “C” shape when opening all the way, and decreased range of motion in a variety of directions. Luckily, conservative treatment like physical therapy has the potential to drastically improve or even eliminate your symptoms!
Your physical therapy evaluation would consist of postural observations of your head, neck, upper back, jaw and tongue. We will also assess your available motion of jaw closing, opening, side to side motion, and forwards/backwards motion. We would assess muscle tension and imbalances both from the outside, and even from the inside of your mouth as you are comfortable. Once the potential culprit(s) of your pain and dysfunction are identified, a combination of hands on treatment and exercises for you to do at home will be prescribed.
Have more questions about how physical therapy can help jaw pain? We would be happy to chat further about how Loon State Physical Therapy can be your teammate in getting you back to moving and feeling your best! Call us at (612) 405-8503 or book with us online at www.loonstatephysicaltherapy.com for an in-person or virtual appointment.
Take care!
Bailey Van Oosbree
Physical Therapist at Loon State Physical Therapy