It’s common to hear people talking about having TMJ issues but if you don’t know what it is, you are in luck because I’m going to discuss it today!
What exactly is TMJ?
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint which is what people call your jaw. It is surrounded by a group of muscles that move the jaw and bones that connect the mandible (chin) to the skull. Individuals with dysfunction in their TMJ will often report they have jaw and/or facial pain, headaches and can feel locking or catching with motion and sometimes grinding sounds.
How does this joint work?
TMJ is a hinge and sliding joint. During jaw movements, only the Mandible (bottom bone that we call the chin) moves. The muscles involved are; Masseter, Medial Pterygoid, Lateral Pterygoid and Temporalis.
The articular disc (thin, oval plate that is a fibrous extension of that capsule that runs between the articular surfaces of TMJ) moves out from between the condyle and fossa.
When you are opening your mouth, the disc goes forward with movement and the condyle moves back into the disc – that’s when you hear a click or popping sound.
When you are closing your mouth, the condyle slides off the back of the disc- that’s when you hear a click or popping sound.
Individuals who have this problem will notice that they have limited range of motion and the mandible will deviate to one side when opening their mouth.
This happens more often in younger people and there are certain things that may cause increased pain. I always recommend patients that have TMJ issues to avoid chewing gum, try to eat soft foods and avoid chewing chunky foods such as carrots. A night guard may also help with the pain – you should visit your Dentist for one.
There’s also a few Chiropractic treatment options available to help alleviate some of the pain and improve the range of motion of your jaw. Contact your Chiropractor!
If you would like to schedule an appointment with me click here to book online for a Chiropractic appointment in Winnipeg.
Source: Conditions Manual By Dr.Nikita Viznia and Dr.Michael Carnes, Netter’s Atlas of Human Body by Frank H. Netter
