Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction

Grinding, clicking, aching jaws – if any of these sound familiar, you might be experiencing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. While these can disrupt your daily life, the good news is that many TMJ concerns can be effectively managed at home. Simple adjustments like posture correction and stress reduction can make a big difference. Additionally, medication can alleviate pain and discomfort.

However, sometimes TMJ pain persists and impacts your well-being. If that’s the case, seeking professional help is crucial. That’s where Evergreen Rehab & Wellness comes in.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunctions refer to issues that affect the joints in your jaw and the surrounding muscles and ligaments. These problems can lead to various symptoms, such as jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty with mouth movements like opening and closing.
You might commonly hear these issues referred to as TMJ, but it’s important to note that TMJ actually stands for the jaw joint itself, while TMD stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction or disorder.

You have two of these joints, one on each side of your face, situated just in front of your ears. They’re crucial for actions like chewing and speaking since they connect your lower jawbone to your skull.

Statistics show that between 5% to 12% of adults experience some form of TMJ disorder. Notably, it’s more prevalent among women and individuals assigned female at birth, being twice as common in this demographic compared to men and individuals assigned male at birth. Moreover, those between 20 and 40 years old are most susceptible to developing TMD.

There are categories of TMJ Dysfunction:

• Disorders affecting the jaw
• Disorders impacting the muscles involved in chewing
• Headaches stemming from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

If you’re experiencing any of these, it could be a sign of TMJ: 

• Pain in your jaw, face, shoulders, or neck. It might feel achy, sharp, or like a dull throb. 
• Trouble opening or closing your mouth fully. Maybe your jaw feels stiff or even gets stuck sometimes. 
• Clicks, pops, or grating sounds when you move your jaw, like when you chew or talk. 
• Headaches, migraines, or earaches that just won’t seem to go away. 
• Pain in your teeth even though they look healthy. 
• Ringing in your ears that you can’t ignore. 
• Your bite feels off, like your teeth aren’t lining up right. 

Remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list, and TMJ symptoms can vary from person to person. If you’re concerned, always talk to your doctor or dentist to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. They can help you find relief and get back to feeling your best.

The primary cause of TMJ dysfunction isn’t singular; rather, it stems from various factors or their combination.

Potential TMJ causes includes:

• Jaw injuries such as fractures or dislocations.
• Teeth grinding or clenching, known as bruxism.
• Arthritis affecting the jaw joint.
• Malocclusion, where teeth alignment is imperfect.
• Stress.

Certain habits can exacerbate TMJ dysfunction:

• Using teeth for tasks like tearing off tags.
• Poor posture, adding strain to neck, shoulder, and facial muscles.
• Chewing on non-food items like pens or pencils, often a nervous habit.
• Chewing ice or gum excessively.
• Taking large bites of food, which strains jaw muscles.
• Daytime teeth clenching or grinding.
• Sleeping on your stomach.

TMJD is more than just jaw pain – it can mess with your whole body and mood. At Evergreen Rehab, we don’t just treat symptoms, we tackle the root cause! 

Here’s how we help you ditch the discomfort and get back to feeling like yourself:

• Chiropractic Care: Our chiropractors are like detectives for your spine and joints. They’ll find any misalignments that could be causing tension and pain, then gently “adjust” them, giving your jaw a fighting chance to feel better.
  You may also book for a specific TMJ Chiropractic care at the following clinics:
  • TMJ Chiropractic in Coquitlam
  • TMJ Chiropractic in Langley
  • TMJ Chiropractic in Surrey
• Registered Massage Therapy: Our RMTs will help you release all the built-up stress and tension in your jaw, neck, and shoulders, leaving you feeling relaxed and pain-free.
• Physiotherapy: Our TMJ physiotherapy sessions are all about strengthening and improving the flexibility of your jaw muscles. They’ll design personalized exercises and manual therapy techniques to get your jaw moving smoothly and comfortably again.
  Schedule for a specific TMJ Physiotherapy sessions at the following:
  • TMJ Physiotherapy in Langley
• Kinesiology/Active Rehab: Forget “one size fits all” exercises! Our kinesiologists and active rehab specialists will create a program tailored to YOU, addressing any muscle imbalances that might be contributing to your TMJ. You’ll learn how to move properly and ditch the pain for good.
• Clinical Counselling: TMJ pain got you stressed? Clinical counselling helps by unlocking emotional knots that fuel the flames, empowering you to manage both pain and its impact on your life.

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