TMJ Treatment In Portland, ME
Affecting roughly 12% of the population, temporomandibular disorder (often referred to as TMJ pain) is one of the common complaints that we treat. TMJ problems are a combination of joint and muscle issues, and as chiropractors, we are perfectly equipped to treat this effectively! TMJ problems often present as pain in the jaw with chewing or talking, jaw popping/clicking, headaches, neck pain, or even ringing in the ears.
There are a few common causes of pain in the jaw. In mild cases, the pain may be a result of strain in the muscles of the jaw. In more serious cases, the pain could be related to a displaced disc in the jaw joint or arthritic change. There is often a correlation to jaw clenching or teeth grinding habits, usually done while sleeping, commonly resulting in jaw pain when waking up at night.
If these symptoms sound familiar, youโre likely suffering from a TMJ problem. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks that you can do on your own to help manage the pain. For example, eating softer foods will ease the stress on your jaw. You can also use ice or heat packs directly on the area of pain and do a light massage to the jaw muscles. Believe it or not, some stretches and exercises can be performed to help improve the mobility and stability of your jaw.
Causes of TMJ
There are a few common causes of pain in the jaw. In mild cases, the pain may be a result of strain in the muscles of the jaw. In more serious cases, the pain could be related to a displaced disc in the jaw joint or arthritic change. There is often a correlation to jaw clenching or teeth grinding habits, often done while sleeping, which will commonly result in jaw pain when waking up at night.
If these symptoms sound familiar to you, then youโre likely suffering from a TMJ problem. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks that you can do on your own to help manage the pain. For example, eating softer foods will ease the stress on your jaw. You can also use ice or heat packs directly on the area of pain, as well as do light massage to the jaw muscles. Believe it or not, there are stretches and exercises that can be performed to help improve the mobility and stability of your jaw.
How We Treat TMJ in Portland, ME
Comprehensive Consultation and Examination
The consultation and examination focus on finding the specific cause of your TMJ pain. We will take a thorough history of your problem but also look at your daily life and history to attain a complete picture of your health and the causes of your pain. While doing so, we will collect knowledge of your current state of health and function to determine why your jaw pain is so persistent. Once we have gained enough information about you and your pain, we can answer every patient's question: Whatโs wrong? How can we help? How long will it take to get better?
Specific Chiropractic Care in Portland, ME
Once we have determined the cause of your TMJ pain and created your custom treatment plan, our next step is to start helping you get better! Our treatment methods involve a combination of therapies to help improve your overall function. Each of these therapies is designed to help you regain strength, mobility, and alignment of your jaw and neck.
Our chiropractic adjustments are designed to help restore joint mobility. While most people think chiropractic adjustments are just for the spine, we regularly adjust the jaw as well! In cases of TMJ pain, the joints of the jaw have become imbalanced or restricted. As chiropractors, our goal is to locate these areas of restriction and restore their proper mobility with the adjustment.
Corrective Exercise
In combination with the adjustment comes your personalized exercise instruction. Our office teaches specific treatment protocols for TMJ pain to correct the dysfunction that contributes to the problem. Our TMJ rehab typically begins with stretches and mobility drills. As you progress and improve, we build you further with strengthening exercises to help improve the strength and balance of your jaw. The goal for our care is not a temporary fix but one that will give you long-lasting relief that prevents future issues. Our focused exercise protocols will help you get there.
Muscle Therapy
Sometimes, people have more intense muscle spasms and adhesions that limit movement and trigger discomfort. With TMJ, the jaw and neck muscles are most likely involved. In these cases, we also offer therapies to help reduce pain and loosen those tight muscles. This includes myofascial therapy techniques that will help you improve your motion and help keep your joints moving better.
Check Out Our Locations Near You
Portland
15 Sewall Street
Portland, ME 04102
Phone:
207-347-2205
South Portland (inside Momentum Gym)
125 John Roberts Rd, Unit #16
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone
207-536-4610
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a chiropractor in Portland, ME help with TMJ?
Yes! Chiropractors are musculoskeletal experts, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most important joints in the body.
How do you permanently fix TMJ?
You must address the underlying cause of pain rather than the pain itself to achieve long-lasting results. Chiropractic care assesses and corrects the structural issues with the jaw that will lead to long-term TMJ pain relief.
What causes TMJ to flare up?
Any activity that requires a lot of work on behalf of the jaw, especially eating foods that require a lot of chewing or are very crunchy. If you grind your teeth at night, that will also exacerbate the situation.
How do you get rid of TMJ fast?
TMJ pain may result from a misalignment in the joint itself or a misalignment in the cervical spine affecting the nerves that innervate the jaw. Based on the results of a thorough exam, a chiropractor can perform an adjustment to relieve nerve pressure and restore joint function.