Any type of pain can be debilitating and make it more difficult for you to function on a daily basis. Jaw pain is no exception. In this article, we are going to discuss the causes and symptoms of jaw pain, and how a physical therapist at Core3 PT can help you work through it.
What is TMD?
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TMJ) is a condition that limits the basic functions of the jaw, like opening your mouth or chewing. Your jaw consists of two bones and a disc, and the pain stems from when they are misaligned or not functioning properly. Sometimes, your jaw will lock, or you will feel a painful popping or muscle spasm. Other symptoms include headaches and dizziness.
What causes TMD?
TMD can be caused by a number of factors. It might be hereditary or could be a result of lifestyle choices or poor dental hygiene. An example of a lifestyle factor is having bad posture that results from spending a lot of time sitting at our desks and working on our laptops or phones. When your head is down for long periods of time, the muscles below your chin are strained, causing your jaw to pull back. It can also be caused by sleeping on your stomach, due to your neck being forced to rotate to keep an open airway, which in turn puts stress on your jaw.
Traditional TMD treatments
There are some ways you can ease jaw pain at home, such as using heat or ice to help with pain and inflammation or massaging the muscles. However, jaw pain can often persist and get worse, which is where a physical therapist from Core3 PT can assist you.
How a physical therapist can help
Physical therapists are experienced in identifying exactly what is causing your jaw pain. They will check if the joints in your jaw are stiff and then give you tips on how to address your TMD/TMJ. The first method they will try is manual therapy to break up any scar tissue that might be causing your pain. If necessary, your physical therapist will also give you more advanced treatments such as ultrasound therapy, which involves applying deep heat into the muscles and joints, and TENS, which applies a mild electrical current over the jaw joint. This has been proven to relax muscles and improve blood circulation, making it an effective treatment for TMD.
They can also teach you exercises to do at home that will help speed up your recovery. An example of one of these exercises is practicing good posture. We advise being mindful of keeping good posture and moving devices to eye level, as well as practicing strengthening exercises for your neck and middle back.
A second example of an exercise your physical therapist might suggest for TMD is a “low-load” exercise, which strengthens the muscles without putting a lot of strain on them.
They will also give you tips on how to prevent TMD moving forward. Practices such as avoiding smoking, eating hard foods, and chewing gum frequently can all help protect you from jaw pain in the future.
Having jaw pain is an uncomfortable situation to be in, but through exercise and physical therapy treatments, you can get help dealing with your symptoms. For more information, contact Core 3 Physical Therapy today!
