Common Ailments and Chiropractic Care

Today we start our series of posts looking at common ailments and how Chiropractic care can help with management of pain and ultimately healing of your body. Once each month we will look at a different health concern and discuss what you can do naturally to help your body.

Firstly, we are starting at the top of the body with Chronic Jaw Pain or TMJD.

 

What is TMJD?

TMJD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. It is characterised by chronic pain and restricted movement of the muscles surrounding the jaw’s chewing joint and the joint that connects the lower jaw to the head. Pain and discomfort can also radiate through the face, head and neck. TMJD makes chewing and sometimes even talking uncomfortable and/or painful.

 

What is the cause?

It is thought that TMJD is caused by many factors, but primarily tension through the jaw from clenching, grinding teeth whilst awake or asleep and excess chewing of gum seem to be the main culprits.

 

What can you do?

The first step is to get to the source of your TMJD pain. Are you particularly stressed or anxious? Do you habitually clench or grind your teeth? Finding and dealing with the root cause will put you on the road to recovery. Also, regular Chiropractic adjustments will help release tension, and realign the structure of your palate and jaw to ensure correct biting and chewing motions are being used.

 

To help reduce stress and tension that may be present as you sleep, ensure you are properly winding down before bedtime.30 minutes of quiet time preparing the body and mind for sleep instead of transitioning straight from the computer, phone or TV to bed will help ease tension in the jaw and face and ready you for sleep.

In the meantime, pain relief is best achieved by regular stretching and relaxing of the jaw muscles, hot and cold packs and keeping a close check on your stress levels to keep your pain under control as you heal.