A Look at the Painful Condition of TMJ and Jaw Popping

It is now estimated that 1 of every 12 people are affected by TMJ in the United States as of 2022. Women are 4x more likely to experience this disorder than men.

What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint or TMJ for short. Joints are connections between two bones. The Temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the side of the skull. You use this joint for talking, yawning, chewing, and even in the act of swallowing. TMJ Disorder is when this joint malfunctions. It can cause clicking, locking, popping, tightness, headache, facial pain, and neck pain. It can range from mild to severe.

TMJ has been known to be a very painful condition for many. Often patients we treat do not even realize that the cause is their jaw. When tension is felt in the neck or head it can easily be assumed that would be the cause.
By finding and treating the root cause you work toward eliminating the issue.

Causes of TMJ include:
• Bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching)
• Arthritis in the jaw
• Dislocation of the disc between the ball and socket joint
• Stress
• Acute trauma
• A misaligned bite

The jaw movement and alignment are more complex than most of the other joints. There are many moving components. It is easy to misalign which will cause pain, tension, headaches, chewing issues, popping, and limited motion.

How Kaster Chiropractic and Associates of Fort Myers, Florida can help
At Kaster Chiropractic we use a gentle, non-invasive, non-thrust adjustment technique along with soft tissue mobilization techniques along with rehabilitation exercises to correct the joint subluxation and muscular imbalances that are often associated with TMJ issues.

To schedule your appointment please give the office a call at 239-332-2555 or visit us online at www.kasterchiropractic.com to learn more about the practice and the full array of services we offer to help you feel your very best.