Experiencing persistent jaw discomfort, frequent headaches, or the unsettling realization that you grind your teeth at night? These symptoms may indicate Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder, a condition affecting the jaw’s movement and causing significant discomfort. At Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre in Oakville, Dr. Jenn and our dedicated Acupuncture Team offers personalized treatments to address these concerns effectively.
What Is TMJ and Jaw Pain?
The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are pivotal in facilitating essential jaw movements such as talking, chewing, and yawning. Each TMJ comprises the articulation between the condylar process of the mandible (lower jaw) and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone of the skull. These joints are unique among synovial joints, as their articular surfaces are lined with fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage.
A key feature of the TMJ is the articular disc—a small, oval-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure—that sits between the condyle of the mandible and the mandibular fossa. This disc divides the joint into two compartments, facilitating both rotational and translational movements. The superior compartment allows for translational movements such as protrusion, retraction, and lateral deviation, while the inferior compartment permits rotational movements like elevation and depression of the mandible.
Pain in the TMJ region can arise from various sources, including:
- Joint-related issues: Such as arthritis or dislocation.
- Disc-related problems: Including disc displacement or degeneration.
- Muscle-related dysfunctions: Like myofascial pain due to muscle tension or overuse.
Understanding the intricate anatomy and function of the TMJs is crucial in diagnosing and effectively treating TMJ disorders.
Signs and Symptoms of TMJ
There are a number of symptoms associated with TMJ dysfunction. Pain in this area can be due to trauma, genetics or arthritic changes. Individuals who grind their teeth, or clench their jaw are also more at risk of causing dysfunction in the TMJ. Signs and symptoms can include pain in one or both side of the face, headaches, difficulty chewing, clicking of the jaw, locking of the joint (in either an open or closed position).
Sometimes the only symptom of trouble in the TMJ is headaches in the morning. Waking up every day with a headache may be a sign that you are unknowingly clenching or grinding your teeth at night, and causing the jaw some distress. A quick test for checking for potential problems with the TMJ is the ‘3 Finger Test’. It’s simple. If your jaw is healthy you should be able to fit 3 of your knuckles into your wide open mouth. If your jaw can’t open that wide, or catches and clicks on opening, it’s time to consult one of our Oakville acupuncturists!
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TMJ and JAW PAIN treatment in Oakville!
What causes TMJ pain? Dr. Jenn says TMJ can be caused by trauma to the jaw (a dodgeball to the face in gym class? A car accident?), people who clench their teeth (lots of us do this when we’re stressed!) or a muscle imbalance between the right and left sides of the jaw can all result in jaw pain. Dr. Jenn has treated all types of patients with jaw and TMJ pain. Learn more about our Oakville Acupuncture provider and how she can help with your jaw pain. Acupuncture TMJ treatment usually helps within a few visits. Dr. Jenn uses specific TMJ acupuncture points. The most effective treatments for TMJ pain are the ones that affect the joint directly. The joint capsule, the disc inside the joint and the muscles we use to chew (because they attach in and around the jaw joint) are the most common causes of pain in this area. One excellent option for treatment is acupuncture. Acupuncture in the jaw?! Yes – and it doesn’t hurt at all. Jaw pain is often due to tension in the muscles that attach around the jaw joint. Acupuncture is extremely effective at helping to reduce muscle tension and decreasing inflammation, which helps the jaw move more freely. Acupuncture has the ability to get inside the joint and muscles and therefore it doesn’t only treat symptoms – it treats the root of the problem!
Acupuncture in Oakville for TMJ and Jaw Pain
There are two acupuncture points in particular that can be extremely effective at helping to resolve this type of pain. One point goes right into the joint (painlessly) and the other targets a large jaw muscle that we use for chewing. It might sound weird to have needles in these areas, but they are all safe and pain-free. Our Oakville Acupuncturist has been trained extensively in anatomy to ensure that the needles are inserted into the correct areas.
How Can Acupuncture Help With TMJ Pain
Your TMJ pain can be caused by grinding your teeth at night and it may be the reason you’re waking up with headaches. Acupuncture can help you with those as well! There are multiple points in the head, neck and back of the shoulders that are great for relieving muscle tension and alleviating headache pain. Come visit us at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre for acupuncture treatment! Combining acupuncture treatment with jaw adjustments and muscle release therapy has proven to be an excellent treatment plan and your pain will be gone in no time!
At Home Treatment for TMJ and Jaw Pain
If your are experiencing difficulty with opening the jaw, there is a simple at-home trick you can use to try and remedy the problem. Using a cork, you can insert it between your teeth, trying to keep the muscles relaxed, and use the cork to try and promote a wider opening. Typically the cork can be left between the teeth for 30 seconds-3 minutes. You may have to trim the cork down in the earlier stages because the jaw range may not accommodate the full cork right away. Remember, the problematic side does not necessarily have to be the painful one. Insert the cork into the side that you have noticed has a limited opening, regardless of which side the pain is on.
TMJ Exercises you can do at home
If you’re experiencing jaw pain, book a visit with one of our Oakville acupuncturists and get started on relieving your pain now!
There are a number of exercises that you can do to help speed along the recovery process. After being assessed by Dr. Jenn, try the following exercises to help ease your jaw pain! 
Book Your TMJ Appointment Today!