What is TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder)?

  • Refers to any dysfunction of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

What are the symptoms of TMD?

  • Pain and tenderness in or around the ear, jaw, cheeks, temporal region, face, and neck
  • Clicking, popping, snapping, crunching, or grinding noises upon opening and closing the jaw
  • Aberrant jaw movements
  • Associated with headaches

What are the causes of TMD?

  • Joint disease (arthritis)
  • Bruxism (clenching or grinding teeth) due to stress or at night during sleep
  • Head and neck tension or dysfunctions
  • Stress or anxiety
  • Chewing on tough foods
  • Breaking hard objects such as nuts using your teeth
  • Direct hit to the jaw (e.g. during boxing)
  • Sleeping on your jaw

What are effective treatments for TMD?

  • Change of habits such as limiting grinding and clenching
  • Rest and relaxation
  • Self massaging muscles associated with TMJ
  • Decreasing stress
  • Eating softer foods and chewing on smaller pieces
  • Limiting the extent of mouth opening during yawning
  • Wearing a night guard, if needed (prescribed by your dentist or ENT specialist)
  • Pain medication and muscle relaxants
  • Doing at-home exercises and stretches – See below
  • Getting soft tissue therapy and joint mobilization/manipulation by your chiropractor (Dr. Khoshroo) specializing in jaw pain and TMD
    • Soft tissue therapy includes trigger point therapy, stretching, and tight tissue release using techniques such as Active Release Technique and PNF stretching
    • Soft tissue therapy can be superficial as well as intraoral (to release the tight muscles and tendons within the mouth)
    • Manipulation/mobilization of the TMJ helps release tension and loosen the ligaments/joints for increased movement and decreased pain
    • Dr. Khoshroo treats jaw pain and TMD using soft tissue therapy techniques and joint mobilization/manipulation

Contact Dr. Khoshroo for more information regarding chiropractic treatments available for jaw pain and TMD

4 Stretches for jaw pain and TMD:

  1. Jaw Opening Stretch
  2. Lateral Deviation Stretch
  3. Jaw Protrusion Stretch
  4. Jaw Retrusion Stretch
Jaw Opening Stretch
Jaw Retrusion Stretch

4 Exercises for jaw pain and TMD:

  1. Jaw Opening Resisted
  2. Lateral Deviation Resisted
  3. Jaw Protrusion Resisted
  4. Jaw Closing Resisted
  • Dr. Khoshroo effectively treats jaw pain and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) using soft tissue therapy techniques and joint mobilization/manipulation in North Vancouver at QubeCore Sports & Rehab.
  • Images courtesy of SimpleSet Pro

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