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The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint connecting your jaw to your face and allows for jaw movement to be up/down and side to side. Our TMJ is how we speak, eat, breathe and cough.
Common TMJ disorders include:
Clenching and Grinding (bruxism)
Clenching and grinding may be done unconsciously, whilst we sleep, or when we are concentrating. A lot of the time people may not know they are doing this. A dentist or a partner may tell you you are grinding, however we can clench without grinding too. Clenching for prolonged periods of time can be quite sore for the jaw, and is typically involved in TMJ pain. As this is a stress reaction - addressing the underlying reasons as to why we are gripping through our face muscles is imperative to help this
Jaw misalignment
Improper teeth position may place extra strain on certain teeth. This can be identified with a dentist/orthodontist to decide the best pathway if this issue needs to be addressed.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis of the TMJ occurs after many years of clenching/grinding and/or trauma to the jaw previously, causing pain and inflammation
Injury
Trauma or injury to the jaw can create pain and dysfunction in the TMJ
Stress
As mentioned above, emotional stress can cause the muscles of the jaw to be under tension, maybe for a prolonged period of time like sleeping. This can then affect the jaw’s ability to move and function effectively
Jaw related headaches
The jaw and the head are very interlinked - a stiff neck can cause you to be clenching, or clenching can stiffen a neck. That's why treatment with an osteopath will also look at your neck and back mechanics to help ease off headache pain originating from the jaw.
People experience jaw pain differently. It can be pain with opening/closing of the mouth, pain or difficulty with eating and chewing, ear aches/sinus issues, locking, clicking or popping sensations in the joint or headache pain.
Medications, dental work or mouth guards can help but manual therapy also has wonderful merit in assisting TMJ pain and educating you as to how to help yourself between appointments.
Osteopathy treatment focuses on the whole picture. We might ask you questions about your lifestyle which may indicate some stressful indicators to your pain. We will ask about your workplace ergonomics, family life if young kids/grandkids need to be lifted, poor sleeping, history of dental work to understanding the tension in your neck and shoulders as well and how this affects the TMJ function. We will work on the muscles on the outside and possibly inside the mouth, and if you are getting headaches from your jaw.
Osteopaths will help guide you to appropriate management measures including self massage of the jaw muscles, using heat to your neck, shoulder and jaw muscles, exercises to help release and strengthen your mouth and neck.
Osteopathy can help
Relieve muscle tension through techniques like massage, stretching, joint mobilisation, myofascial release to make it easier to open and close the jaw
Increase range of motion exercises designed specifically for you to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your face, neck and back
Add in mobilisation techniques to help the jaw’s function and movement
Woking on postural mechanics - workplace ergonomics, beds, pillows are all important in TMJ dysfunction, but working with strengthening the upper body can help alleviate the pressure off the jaw
Help you with stress management techniques to decrease the tension in the face and reduce the clenching/stress mechanism through external approaches.
Osteopathy can be really wonderful to help TMJ and jaw related headaches and migraines. Our practitioners at Burwood Osteo & Rehab specialise in helping TMJ related conditions and are very knowledgeable in helping assist you in your pain journey.
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