Jaw Pain and Muscle Tension?

An injury or problem in one area of your body can impact other areas.

For example, if you sprain your ankle and are limping, other parts of your body, like your knees and your hips may be affected because they have to compensate for the abnormal biomechanics of your gait.

When it comes to examples like that, it takes no stretch of the imagination to see that relationship. However, abnormal biomechanical changes in the body usually have much more far-reaching impacts. An often-overlooked area of the body is the temporomandibular joint, or simply the TMJ. This is essentially our ‘jaw joint,’ which is a hinge-like structure that connects our lower and upper jaws and hence allows us to chew, swallow, and talk, among other things.

The importance of this little joint can often be overlooked.

An integral relationship exists between our TMJ and neck and upper back muscles.

When we use our jaw, our jaw and neck muscle fire simultaneously, and vice versa.

Poor posture, like "head forward posture" or slouching, will impact our TMJ biomechanics. TMJ problems will affect our neck biomechanics. Here comes the stretch; let’s return to the sprained ankle. You start limping—eventually, your opposite knee and hip start to hurt because of it. You are now ‘shifting’ your biomechanics in a way that will impact your upper back, neck, and, yes, even your jaw. Further, neck and TMJ problems may be related to other issues like headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), sinus problems, and even snoring.

Healthcare professionals, including dentists, often overlook the importance and the integral role that the TMJ has on the body. The best approach is to address the whole body, which should involve an integrated approach among your health professionals. Here at Colasanti Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we can address issues with the neck and back, or may directly treat the TMJ with acupuncture or LASER therapy.  Often, patients are referred back to their dentist to deal with specific issues involving the TMJ, and there are more and more dentists out there who acknowledge the TMJ's impact on our health.

Reach out to us if we can help you: 519-258-8544