While there are no common causes of TMJ, there are potentially several contributing factors to the pain that may one day hinder your jaw. As you can imagine of something that performs as a type of hinge, the TMJ is affected by wear and tear. This means that grinding and clenching your teeth can lead to injuries of the jaw.

However, stress and movement of the disc between the ball and socket of the joint can also cause your jaw to become sore and swollen. Though it is not as common, arthritis can also be a cause of TMJ. Even more rarely, we may see a fracture. Several other risk factors include misaligned teeth and poor posture. Women aged 18-44 are also more likely to experience TMJ pain.

The symptoms of TMJ vary from person to person, however, some of the most commonly experienced signs include:

– Clicking, popping or grating sounds when you move your jaw
– Pain, discomfort or tenderness in the back of your jaw near your ears
– Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
– Headaches and earaches
– Muscle spasms in the jaw
– A locked or stuck jaw
-Swelling in the side of your face near your ears.

TMJ may also cause toothaches and headaches so it’s important to speak to a medical practitioner. Other less common symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, earaches and tinnitus and shoulder pain.

The most important part of any injury is getting the correct diagnosis which is why it may seem extreme but our osteopaths at Still Point Osteopathy will perform a thorough assessment of the head, jaw, neck, shoulders and mid-back and potentially other areas of the body.

As osteopaths, we believe in a holistic approach and that the wellbeing of an individual depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue functioning smoothly together.

This means that if one thing is out of alignment, it can affect your body in other areas you may not even recognise, particularly in cases of TMJ because of the proximity of the jaw and neck, you rarely get dysfunction in one without the other.

An initial consultation with one of our qualified osteopaths will involve getting a full history so we can better understand your health and not only the causes of your pain but the impact it is having on your life. This history will include things like occupation, diet, sleeping habits, hobbies and current stress levels.

If we determine that your TMJ stems from a dental issue, we may advise a visit to the dentist for a check-up as sometimes problems can be resolved with input from both professions.

Alternatively, if it is not likely caused by dental issues, osteopathic treatment can be very affective in relieving TMJ pain. We use a range of techniques including palpating for tension in the muscles and ligaments that control the movement of your jaw to determine if there is dysfunction of the joint or tightness in the soft tissue structures. We can also work with structures in the neck and head where the muscles of the jaw attach.

We use soft tissue techniques to loosen and release tight muscles, treat any movement restrictions to restore biomechanics to the TMJ, correct poor posture of the neck and upper back that may be leading to tightness and joint restriction and provide advice on stretches and exercises that may assist in alleviating pain and prevent reoccurrence of symptoms. Our patients often really enjoy treatment of the TMJ as it is common to feel the benefits immediately afterwards.

Still Point Osteopathy

North Brisbane Osteopathy
2 great locations Ashgrove and North lakes

Contact Us

Still Point Osteopathy (previously known as Discover Osteopathy) Ashgrove.

Ph: 0733 666 831

Fax: 0733 666 381

Address: 10/338 Waterworks rd

Ashgrove 4060

Email: admin@stillpointosteopathy.rehab