The document discusses how chiropractic care can help treat temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Chiropractic adjustments to the neck and back can help correct spinal alignment and restore proper nervous system function to alleviate jaw pain caused by TMJ. Poor posture or back problems may also contribute to TMJ symptoms, which chiropractic care can address. Chiropractors also perform trigger point therapy on the jaw muscles to relax them and provide relief from TMJ discomfort. When combined with other treatments, chiropractic care can be an effective option for treating TMJ.

1. Can Chiropractors Help With TMJ?
If you suffer from a temporomandibular disorder, commonly referred to as TMJ even
though that designation actually stands for temprormandibular joint, you know the pain and
discomfort it can cause. You’ve probably been scouring the internet, looking for solutions and
treatments. As you consider your options, don’t forget to look into some chiropractic care. You
might be surprised at the relief it can offer.
What is TMJ?
TMJ refers to problems associated with the jaw. You might experience pain in the face,
jaw, neck and shoulders. This pain can even continue up to your ear area when you chew or open
your mouth wide. You might also have a
limited range of motion with your jaw and
only be able to open it so far. Often, people
suffering from TMJ might hear a clicking or
popping noise when they use their jaw and
sometimes their jaw can even get stuck in one
position. As you can see, TMJ problems can
have a major impact on your ability to speak,
eat, and just live comfortably.
Treatment Options
There are many treatment options when it comes to dealing with TMJ. A lot of these are
things you can do on your own at home. For example, you can apply a cold compress to your jaw
and face. Follow this with some jaw stretching and strengthening exercises and then finish off

2. with a warm compress. You can also get a guard fitted to your mouth for night use. This will
help prevent any teeth grinding and will keep your jaw aligned correctly. If you’re looking for
simple ideas, you can avoid chewing gum, focus on keeping your jaw relaxed during the day,
and massage the area every evening before bed.
Medical Treatment Options
If you aren’t satisfied with the results you’re getting from home treatments, there are
some medical options as well. Your dentist can prescribe muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory
medications. You can also have corrective dental work done to replace missing teeth, correct any
alignment issues, or fix a bite problem. Finally, there are also laser treatments available that are
intended to relax the jaw and neck area and increase your range of mobility.
Chiropractic Treatment Options
Another option you might want to research as you consider treatment for you TMJ is
chiropractic care. There are several ways that chiropractic care can help alleviate your
symptoms. For example, a chiropractor can work to correct
your spinal alignment. This can, in turn, restore proper
nervous system function which may help alleviate jaw pain.
In some cases, your TMJ symptoms might be a result of
poor posture or a back problem. By having chiropractic
adjustments performed on your neck and back, you might
find relief from a lot of your discomfort. Finally, your
chiropractor might do some trigger point therapy around
the jaw itself and work to relax those muscles. This can go

3. a long way toward relieving your symptoms. When combined with some of the other options
described above, chiropractic care can be a very effective treatment for TMJ.
*First image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporomandibular_joint_dysfunction
*Second image from: http://www.chiro54.com/dr-richard-klein/