Chiropractic care may help jaw pain that is linked to tight muscles and stiff joints in the jaw, neck and upper back. After a careful exam, care may include gentle adjustments, soft tissue work and home exercises. If your symptoms point to a dental or medical cause, you will be referred.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint on each side of your face that connects your jawbone to your skull. When people say they “have TMJ,” they usually mean a temporomandibular disorder (TMD): pain or limited movement in the jaw joint and the muscles that move it.
Common signs
- Jaw pain or tenderness, often near the ear
- Clicking, popping or a catching feeling when you open or close your mouth
- Tightness or tiredness in the jaw when chewing, talking or yawning
- Headaches around the temples
- Earaches or ear fullness without an ear infection
- Neck and shoulder tightness on the same side as the jaw pain
What can contribute to jaw pain
- Clenching or grinding your teeth, especially during sleep or stress
- A head-forward posture from desk work or phone use that loads the neck and jaw muscles
- A past neck, jaw or whiplash injury
- Chewing gum or very hard foods often
- Arthritis or a bite problem that needs a dentist’s input
How care works
Dr. Thomas reviews your history, checks how your jaw opens and moves, and examines your neck and upper back, since these areas work together. Care may include gentle adjustments, soft tissue work for the muscles around the jaw and neck, posture coaching and simple habits such as keeping your teeth apart and your jaw relaxed during the day.
The research on manual care for jaw pain is still growing, so we set honest expectations and review your progress together. Because jaw, neck and headache problems often travel together, you may also find our headaches page and neck pain page helpful.
Working with your dentist
Jaw pain can come from teeth, gums, bite or sleep problems that need dental care. If you grind your teeth, a dentist can check for wear and talk with you about a night guard. Dr. Thomas is happy to share what he finds with your dentist or doctor.
Call 911 or seek emergency care for
- Jaw pain with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or pain spreading into the arm
- A jaw that locks open or closed
- Swelling of the face or jaw with fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing
- Jaw pain after a blow to the face or head
Jaw pain and TMJ care near North Lima
Cascade Chiropractic is in North Lima, Ohio, and helps patients with jaw pain and TMJ from Boardman, Poland, Canfield, Columbiana, Youngstown and nearby Mahoning Valley towns. New patients are welcome and no referral is needed. Request a visit online, call 330-727-8146 or see all areas we serve.
This page is for general education and is not a diagnosis. Every patient receives an individual exam before care begins.