Mark Gerard's Therapeutic Massage

To appreciate the complexity of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), all you have to do is open your mouth. Then move your jaw sideways. This particular joint – the one that hinges your jawbone to your skull – is unique because it allows for both rotation and translation (or sliding) movements. How can this be, you ask? Well, it’s simpler than you might think: each joint is actually comprised of two joints.

Of course, the TMJ is prone to all the injuries and wear and tear as all your other joints. Arthritis, fatigue from excessive biting or clenching, or erosion of bone and cartilage can all lead to painful and sometimes debilitating conditions. But because this joint is located right in front of the ear, people often confuse TMJ issues with a simple earache. They don’t realize that their other symptoms – like headaches or migraines, difficulty in biting or chewing, a “clicking” jaw, ringing in the ear, or even neck pain – could all point to issues in the TMJ.

Something to Chew On

Tooth health may also be affected by a TMJ disorder, which is why many dentists take an interest in the condition. Think about it: if the joint that determines the positioning of your jaw falls out of line even by a millimeter (from any of the conditions I mentioned above), then your teeth will fall together differently. Combine that with the jaw-clenching that many people suffer from and you have recipe that could lead to tooth loss and erosion

In turn, the mouth’s gums and pulp could become distressed since they’re having to withstand stresses that they’re not used to. Alternately, sometimes the deterioration can be reversed. For instance, wisdom tooth removal can alter the position of your jaw – and therefore your TMJ.

How to Get Slack-Jawed

I’ve already mentioned some of the clinical causes. You can also take steps to help prevent TMJ disorders. Look at it this way – just like a door hinge gets dry and creaky when it’s overused, so does your TMJ. So what activities involve “opening and shutting” your jaw repeatedly? (And no, I’m not talking about talking!)

Ever take a huge chunk of food at dinnertime and stuff it in your mouth? I know I have, and it seems to take forever to chew it enough so I can swallow it. So limit the size of your mouthfuls. Similarly, gum chewing can overwork the TMJ. If you’re a nervous nail-biter, you’re adding strain to the joint too. And if you’re one who tightens your jaw during the day when you’re stressed out or just anxious (about a snowy cold winter, for instance!) make it a point to take a few deep breaths and do some focused relaxation with your jaw.

Chronic symptoms of TMJ disorders should be brought to a physician. But many cases that I see can be treated without medical assistance. Certainly, massage can help. For instance, sometimes the muscles surrounding the joint get inflamed because they’re being pulled in ways they’re not used to. Some simple craniosacral and facial massage can ease those muscles. And if you’re one who carries stress in your jaw and neck, a soothing treatment can help.