Can a Chiropractor help someone get relief from jaw pain?

It all depends.  Most people would never think to consult a chiropractor for jaw pain. That is unfortunate because chiropractic has pretty good track record with helping people get relief from mechanical jaw problems or pain from Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.

There are several different kinds of jaw pain.  Some symptoms come from an aching tooth or some other disorder that would best be addressed by a dentist.  However, there is one type of jaw pain that often goes misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated by most healthcare professionals…but treated quickly and effectively by chiropractors!

But Wait!  The Jaw Isn’t Connected to the Spine!  How Can a Chiropractor Help?

It all has to do with the nerves, the muscles and your POSTURE….and ultimately your SPINE.  On common form of jaw pain, that is often overlooked is the pain caused by the referral pattern of a trigger point in the muscle on the side of the head – known as the Temporalis Muscle.  The Temporalis Muscle is involved in chewing of our food.  It is a small muscle that most people are unaware that they even have…..until they have a problem with their jaw.

Normally the temporalis muscle does its job and no one ever thinks about it.  The problem starts when the joints of the spine become misaligned and the persons posture starts to decay. This causes the head to move forward of the body – FORWARD HEAD POSTURE – and it increases stress on the neck and IMMEDIATELY produces muscular imbalances.  This in turn can cause the Temporalis Muscle to become strained and form a trigger point.  A trigger point is a tender area in a muscle that causes generalized musculoskeletal pain when overstimulated. The trigger point can refer pain into the jaw.  To make matters worse…the muscular imbalance can case a tracking disorder for the jaw which can cause pain in its own right.

So, if jaw pain or temporomandibular joint dysfunction is secondary to a vertebral subluxation or poor postural patterns, then chiropractic will most likely be able to help!

If you or someone you know are suffering from some sort of jaw pain – give us a call today and find out if we can help you too!

Call us at 859-525-1695