Experience relief from TMJ pain through gentle, safe, and effective chiropractic care at Freitag Family Chiropractic in the Twin Cities.
Up to 25% of the population will suffer from TMJ symptoms at some point in their lifetime.
TMJ Disorder Facts
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Typical symptoms include jaw clicking, limited mouth opening, possible jaw locking, and pain.
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TMJ pain is generally described as an "ache" located in front of your ear canal but may also refer to other areas of your face, head, neck, and shoulders.
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Chewing and eating usually make your symptoms more noticeable.
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Most patients are 20-50 years old.
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Women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from TMJ pain.
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TMJ disorder is more common in people who clench their jaw or grind their teeth, especially at night.
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TMJ disorder patients often suffer from headaches.
TMJ pain is most often caused by the improper motion of the joint that connects the jaw bone or mandible to the skull through the temporal bone.
Problems can arise from the muscles around the joint, the disk within the joint, or the bony portion of the joint itself.
Imbalances between the muscles that open and close the jaw are the most common culprit.
Like those provided in our Bloomington, MN clinic, conservative treatments can be as effective as any surgery for most patients with TMJ Disorder.
Treatment consists of light massage for tight jaw muscles, gentle mobilization to restore movement to restricted joints (including your neck and upper back), and prescribing exercises to improve flexibility.
Activator chiropractic is highly effective at relieving TMJ pain and restoring proper alignment and motion to the mandible or jaw bone.
The Activator Technique TMJ Testing Exam identifies the mandible-temporal bone misalignment or dysfunction and guides the gentle correction of the joint.
The thumb is used as a force buffer to ensure a specific and gentle correction when performing the adjustment.
Further Treatment Recommendations
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Avoid aggravating activities like chewing gum or eating rubbery or chewy foods.
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Limit excessive talking.
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A dentist may prescribe a custom-fitted mouthguard to help minimize grinding & clenching and promote relaxation of your jaw muscles at night.
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Patients with night-time symptoms should avoid stressful activity before bedtime and sleep in a "neutral" position.
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In some cases, stress management techniques, like biofeedback, can assist you in learning how to relax your jaw muscles.
For TMJ care you can trust in the Twin Cities, reach out to Freitag Family Chiropractic to schedule a consultation.
Start your journey to pain-free living today.
Call 952-818-2485
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