If you place your fingers in front of each ear and open your jaw, you will feel lots of movement. This is where your skull’s temporal bone attaches to your mandible (jaw), and it is called the TemporoMandibular Joint (TMJ). Lots of ligaments, cartilage, fascia, discs, muscles, nerves and blood vessels run in, around and through it.
When the TMJ is misaligned it can cause all kinds of problems: trouble opening the mouth wide, clicking or popping sounds, a locked jaw, headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), throat fullness, facial swelling, shoulder, cheek or jaw pain, neck aches, facial nerve pain, ear or eye pain, dental pain, nausea, blurred vision and even dizziness!
Spinal and TMJ misalignment problems are actually related, and that means many TMJ dysfunction sufferers can benefit greatly from chiropractic care. By releasing pressure in the spine and cranial bones, Chiropractic may relieve or completely correct TMJ problems!
Conversely, an unhealthy skull/jaw alignment can put great stress upon your spinal column. There are documented cases of dental problems that, once corrected, have helped chiropractic patients to better hold their spinal adjustments.
Anyone who has been to the dentist should follow up with a quick stop at their chiropractor to make sure the TMJ is in correct alignment. All TMJ dysfunction sufferers need a chiropractic spinal checkup. Do you know someone who has jaw problems? They might really appreciate knowing what Chiropractic can do for them!
