Does your jaw click? Do you grind your teeth at night?

Does your jaw click every time you chew, swallow, talk, open your mouth wide e.g. brushing your teeth? Does your partner complain that you grind your teeth at night? Or do you wake in the morning with sore cheeks? These can all be a sign of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. The TMJ is a joint in front of your ears and is responsible for the opening & closing of your jaw. 

Symptoms:

- Pain or tenderness in your jaw or around the joint

- Clicking or a popping sound, when moving your jaw

- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, brushing your teeth, talking

- Joint locking

- Headaches

- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)

The are a variety of causes to TMJ disorders:

- Disc (pillow) dysfunction without the joint

- Joint cartilage damage

- External knock to the jaw

- Teeth issues e.g. poor dental alignment, grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw, excessive chewing (e.g. chewing chewing gum) 

Ways to self care:

- Eat softer foods

- Destress: Often periods of stress can cause teeth grinding and/or jaw clenching. Try some mediation or diaphragmatic breathing

- Avoid excessive chewing e.g. chewing gum

- Massage into your cheek muscles

- Apply heat or cold to the area

How can osteopathy help you:

Your osteopath will help identify what is causing your jaw pain & give you tailored advice on ways you can self manage & reduce your pain. Treatment will be aimed at improving your TMJ function, reducing any muscle tension on the joint, improving your neck/cervical spine mechanics, teaching you some breathing techniques to reduce any stress & treating any other relevant areas of concern. Osteopaths use a range of techniques including soft tissue massage, joint articulation and manipulation & muscle stretching to achieve this.  

To make a booking use our online system or send us an email!