Does Your Jaw Pop, Lock, and Make You Drop It? We've Got Solutions!
Springtime smiles, dear readers!
Does your jaw pop, click, or lock up while chewing? Maybe you find yourself popping more advil for the fourth day in a row after that last work meeting of the day when your jaw is just SO tired from all that talking? Perhaps you even feel a wee bit nervous about going out for a nice meal or planning that early barbeque season grill out because you’re just not sure your jaw can open quite far enough to fit a delicious burger into your mouth comfortably?
If you can relate to any (or, heaven forbid, all!) of the above portrayals, odds are you’re experiencing an unfortunate condition known as TMJ Disorder.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
Technically, TMJ stands for the Temporal Mandibular Joint, a very fancy description for the joint and muscles just in front of your ears along the jaw, responsible for the actions of talking and chewing. TMJ Disorder simply refers to the unfortunate and often painful condition that causes popping, clicking, and locking of the jaw, and it is directly related to misalignment and tension If this is something you’ve experienced, have no fear! We can help!
Why Does TMJ Happen?
There are a ton of reasons why your TMJ can become irritated, ranging from stress to muscle soreness to misalignment of the bones of your jaw. It’s not uncommon for one to trigger the other, for example, stress at work could cause you to clench your jaw, leading to muscle soreness and eventually, even potentially misalignment of the bones in your jaw. No fun!
Joint issues like arthritis can be a factor in TMJ Disorder as well, as can disc degeneration and literally dozens of other factors. We are complex, multi-faceted beings, and every case and cause is different! That’s why it’s so important to get professional guidance and support when dealing with TMJ (or really any kind of recurrent pain point or problem area in your body)! Our expert team can get to the root of your unique situation and really guide you along towards what is truly beneficial for you. Quick tips and simple exercises can help in the short-term, but to really break through and recover fully, you’ll need the support of one of our PTs who specialize in TMJ.
A Helpful Exercise To Open Up Your Jaw And Release Pressure
Check out the video below to learn an easy, quick exercise to separate the joint spaces and open up your jaw through gentle (did I say gentle? REALLY gentle!) compression. This feels so good, and can help bring immediate relief to those suffering from TMJ Disorder or related tension and tightness.
As we’ve mentioned before, this gentle releasing exercise will help in the short-term, but to really unwind this pattern in the long-term, you’ll want to work with one of our TMJ specialists.
Schedule Your Free Headache or TMJ Consult With A PT Today
Our TMJ and Headache specialists, Jereme, Jill, or Kayla and the rest of our team of highly experienced and trained experts are available to meet with you and create personalized treatment plans around your unique needs to keep you feeling your best, or helping you heal even if you didn’t think it was possible.
Call us at 262.264.8701 to chat with us about how we can help and get on the path to better movement, or click the button below to inquire for more information.
Remember, life’s too short to suffer!
P.S.
Now is an excellent time to come in for that “spring tune up” to help clear up any stiffness, soreness, or pain that may have arisen during the winter months. Throughout this whole month, we are offering a full 50% off the price of your first session whether you are completely new to our practice, or simply haven’t been in to see one of our experts in a while. To claim this excellent offer, all you need to do is hit “reply” to this email with the words “spring tune up” and we will get you scheduled right away with one of our award winning PTs at a rate you simply can’t miss.
