TMJ Dysfunction - Get Your Bite Back with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care
Channel: The Upper Cervical Spine Center
Date: 2022-08-04

#chiropractic #northcarolina #UpperCervical #chiropractor 

Schedule Your FREE Consultation!
Charlotte - 704.588.5560
Nashville - 615.953.7406
Wilmington - 910.821.8006

LEARN MORE: www.uppercervicalspinecenter.com

One of the most commonly overlooked causes of TMJ pain is trauma to the upper neck and nervous system.

Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Help My TMJ?
The most common misperception about Upper Cervical care is that it only helps back and neck pain. Although our doctors can certainly help those who come to us seeking relief from back and neck pain, these patients represent a small percentage of those helped by Upper Cervical chiropractors. Patients suffering from a variety of conditions, including TMJ, have had their health restored through Upper Cervical care. Upper Cervical doctors recognize that the body is a self-healing organism controlled and coordinated by the central nervous system, which is protected by the skull and spine.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care - A Simple Concept
Upper Cervical care is based on the universal law of cause and effect. For every effect or symptom, physical or mental, there must be a cause. Upper Cervical chiropractors focus on locating and removing interference to the nervous system that can be the cause of the health condition. Removing this interference allows the body to heal itself naturally without drugs or surgery. An Upper Cervical correction is very controlled; there is no pulling, tugging, or jerking of the head. This precise yet gentle touch allows the head, neck, and spine to return to the proper position, thus removing the interference and restoring balance to the body.

The TMJ & the Trigeminal Nerve
Movement of the left and right TMJs must be coordinated, working at the same time for the jaw to move properly. This movement is orchestrated by a complex set of muscles that are directly controlled by the body’s nervous system, specifically branches of the trigeminal nerve, which is one of the most complex and powerful nerves in the body. It feeds sensation and function to one’s jaws, face, tongue, sinus, palate, eyes, teeth, and lips. Since the trigeminal nerve feeds the jaw, it is closely associated with the function of the TMJ and is critical in the development of TMJ pain.

There is a delicate working relationship between the TMJ, the muscles that move the jaw, and the nerves that control these muscles. Therefore, healthy function of the TMJ system requires normal structure and function of both the temporomandibular joints and the trigeminal nerve.

Causes of TMJ Pain
One of the primary causes of TMJ pain and disorders is damage to the joint itself. Direct or indirect trauma can affect the TMJ and clearly cause pain and dysfunction. Motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and dental work have been shown to trigger TMJ disorders, but even subtle, repeated traumas like clenching the teeth, excessive gum chewing, nail biting, or cradling a phone between your shoulder and the side of your head can cause TMJ pain. One of the most commonly overlooked causes of TMJ pain is trauma to the upper neck and nervous system.

Trauma to the upper neck can cause a misalignment which results in pressure or irritation to the trigeminal nerve. This pressure can cause the muscles that control the jaw to malfunction, thereby changing the movement of the TMJ. The joints do not work properly because the disc is pinched while opening or closing the jaw, and the neck and shoulder muscles go into painful spasms during the normal process of eating, talking, laughing, or smiling.

Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction
TMJ dysfunction occurs when the joint is misaligned or malfunctions. Over time, this abnormal wear and tear can cause irritation, inflammation, and eventually arthritis within the joint itself, all leading to TMJ dysfunction. The symptoms of TMJ dysfunction can appear suddenly after a trauma, or they may take years to develop.

The symptoms of TMJ vary from person to person and can affect one or both joints. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may include:
● Clicking or popping of the joint
● Pain with or without chewing
● Locking of the jaw
● Toothache
● Facial and/or neck pain
● Headaches
● Earaches
● Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
● Clogged or stuffy ear

How Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Different?
The area of expertise for Upper Cervical chiropractors is the top two bones in the neck and, most importantly, the brain stem. When a misalignment occurs between the head and neck at the level of the top two bones in the neck, brain to body communication is disrupted and the jaw doesn’t open or close properly. This can result in TMJ pain, facial pain, ringing in the ears, headaches, and muscle tension.

Because of the close relationship between the TMJ and the cervical spine, patients should be examined by an Upper Cervical doctor. The longer a person has the problem, the more damage can be done to both the jaw and the neck.