Living with jaw pain?
Our osteopaths can help
What’s the go with Jaw Pain and Clicking? Should I be worried?
T.M.J, otherwise known as the Tempero-Mandibular Joint, is a common site for pain. TMJ Dysfunction is the medical name for jaw pain and stiffness. It is a common issue, affecting tens of thousands of Australians every year. It can be intensely painful and downright distressing. Here is what to look out for:
Pain and stiffness is felt over the jaw joint which is a little to the front and just below your ear. When the jaw joint gets inflamed the most common symptoms is a dull aching pain, which is aggravated by eating tough and chewy food, and stiffness felt after eating and in the morning. The stiffness can be felt particularly if you stretch your jaw open, like a yawn. Most often symptoms are felt on one side but they can be felt on both.
Other common symptoms include:
Eating very chewy foods like tough steak can trigger episodes. Trauma to the head, like getting punched in the face, falling and hitting your head, bring struck by a ball or object in the jaw or some other direct force affecting the chin or jaw is a definite risk. If pain is significant following trauma make an appointment to see a professional for an X-ray to rule out a fracture.
In our experience, jaw pain and stiffness are regularly triggered by stressful periods. Bruxism (grinding your teeth at night) is a common cause for jaw pain and stiffness. This too is aggravated by psychological stress. Prolonged stress or recurring trauma to the jaw can cause arthritis to develop, and this has a more consistent low grade pattern of pain and stiffness. Our Osteos can refer for an X-Ray to confirm this.
If you have been suffering from TMJ pain or have recently injured your jaw, make an appointment with one of our Osteopaths today.
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