TMJ Disorders and Jaw pain

Overview

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull, allowing you to speak, chew, and yawn. When the surrounding muscles become tense or the joint disc moves out of alignment, it can lead to persistent jaw pain, clicking, and tension headaches.

Common Symptoms

• Jaw pain, tenderness, or tightness in the cheeks and temples

• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening or closing your mouth

• Limited jaw opening or temporary locking of the joint

• Tension headaches, ear fullness, or facial muscle fatigue

• Neck stiffness and upper back discomfort

Our Treatment Approach

At Heal Physiotherapy & Chiropractic, we take an integrated, hands-on approach to restore normal jaw function and relieve discomfort:

• Targeted Assessment: Evaluating jaw mechanics, intraoral and extraoral muscle tension, and neck alignment to find the root cause.

• Manual Therapy: Specialized myofascial release for tight jaw muscles (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids) alongside gentle joint mobilizations.

• Therapeutic Modalities: Using modalities like ultrasound, laser, or electrical therapy to reduce localized inflammation and relieve acute pain.

• Active Rehabilitation: Custom jaw exercises to improve movement symmetry, retrain motor control, and reduce teeth grinding or clenching habit.