Do you experience jaw pain on a regular basis? Whatever the cause of the pain, jaw pain can have a significant impact on your daily life - from eating to talking and from sleeping to relaxing. Fortunately, chiropractic offers a holistic treatment method that can provide relief. Indeed, jaw pain is rarely an isolated problem, so it is crucial to look at the complete picture and not just focus on the jaw area. That's why at The Family Chiropractor we look further, investigating the total interplay of your posture, sleeping posture, the health of your nervous system, muscles and lifestyle.
In this blog, we describe different types of jaw pain (such as jaw pain from stress, jaw pain from colds or jaw pain on one side) and explain how a chiropractor can help with jaw pain symptoms. We also give tips of things you can do yourself to complement your treatment to relieve the symptoms of jaw pain. Do you still have questions after reading this blog? Remember that you can always contact with us!
Different types of jaw pain
The causes of jaw pain are often diverse and not always immediately obvious. Every individual and every complaint is unique, and it is important to consider on a personal level what factors could possibly play a part in causing your jaw pain. However, below we discuss some general, common forms of jaw pain and triggers that can cause jaw pain. That way, you can already get some idea of which category your symptoms might fall into.
Jaw pain under stress
Did you know that jaw pain due to stress is one of the most common but least known tension complaints? Many people experience tension in their bodies on a daily basis, but do not realise that this stress literally locks in their jaws. With jaw pain stress, you often unconsciously clamp your jaws together, both during the day and at night. This leads to overloading of the jaw joint and tense jaw muscles,resulting in complaints such as pain when chewing, headaches and even radiating pain to ears. It can also affect the quality of sleep, and people who suffer from jaw pain stress also often suffer from teeth grinding and headaches.
This form of jaw pain usually occurs gradually and is often aggravated by other factors such as poor posture, (prolonged) lack of sleep or breathing problems. A chiropractor can help reduce tension in your jaw and neck area, restore joint balance and calm your nervous system. Combined with relaxation techniques and stress management, this can often provide lasting relief from jaw pain caused by stress.
Jaw pain cold
Many people notice during a cold that not only their nose and throat suffer, but also their jaw. Jaw pain with a cold is more common than you might think, and can be quite annoying. The cause often lies in the paranasal sinuses (sinuses), which become inflamed or blocked during a cold. This pressure builds up in the face and can radiate to the jaw area, leading to that typical jaw pain cold. This also explains why people often feel jaw pain on 1 side (jaw pain on the left or jaw pain on the right) during a cold, especially if the inflammation is asymmetrical. This can also be accompanied by a heavy or painful feeling around your eyes, cheeks or even teeth. Although this pain is usually temporary, it can persist or worsen if the underlying tension in your jaw or neck area is not addressed. A chiropractor can help with jaw pain colds by relieving pressure in the jaw region.
Jaw pain at ear
Do you suffer from jaw pain at the ear or sometimes experience ear pain and jaw pain on 1 side at the same time? Then you are definitely not the only one. Many people immediately think of earache as an ear infection, but surprisingly, the cause may lie in the jaw joint. The jaw joint is right next to the ear. Irritation or inflammation in this joint can lead to jaw pain at the ear, or ear pain and jaw pain on one side. These symptoms are often accompanied by a clicking sound when opening the mouth or chewing. This creates the feeling of jaw pain at ear, while the problem is actually in the jaw joint. In particular, ear pain and jaw pain on 1 side is a common complaint in people with unilateral tension or blockages in the neck and jaw region. A holistic chiropractor examines the mobility and alignment of these structures, and can provide relief from both jaw and ear pain with targeted corrections and muscle relaxation techniques.
Left jaw pain only, or right jaw pain only
Left jaw pain alone, or right jaw pain alone, can have several causes, such as muscle tension, joint problems or even a wrong bite. Left jaw pain often focuses on tension on the left side of the jaw joint or surrounding muscles. Jaw pain on the right, on the other hand, can be caused, for example, by an overuse of the right jaw when chewing or grinding teeth. However, it is very important not only to look at the side where you experience the pain, but rather to see the complete picture. A chiropractor carefully examines where the tension comes from and adjusts the treatment accordingly.
(Chronic) headache and jaw pain on one side
Chronic tension in the neck, shoulders and jaw can also lead to a combination of headache and jaw pain on 1 side. This is often caused by incorrect posture, teeth grinding or prolonged stress. Consequently, people often suffer from the same, recurring symptoms on a regular basis. These can be symmetrical (on both sides of the head and jaw), but if there is a slight imbalance, there is much more pressure on one particular side. When the jaw muscles on one side become overloaded, for example by frequent clenching of teeth, this can logically lead to headache and jaw pain on 1 side again. So the pain manifests itself on one side, but it is important to actually look at the whole body (not just the left or right side) and restore balance to the body.
How can a chiropractor help with jaw pain?
A chiropractor specialises in detecting and correcting blockages in the nervous system. Jaw pain naturally involves the jaw joint, but often the role of the spine - especially the cervical vertebrae - is forgotten. At the initial consultation, we examine the movement of your jaw and the alignment of your neck and skull. Disruption in the cervical vertebrae can irritate nerves running to the jaw joint, causing jaw pain. The chiropractor performs gentle, targeted adjustments aimed at restoring the natural movement of the spine and jaw joint. By clearing blockages in the nervous system, your body can once again send the right signals through the nerves. This relieves pressure on your jaw and muscles, and allows the body to regain balance. Besides chiropractic adjustments, a chiropractor will also give lifestyle advice (if required). Among other things, a chiropractor can advise you on optimal sleeping posture, stress reduction or breathing techniques. Indeed, all these lifestyle factors can make a positive contribution to reducing jaw pain
What can you do yourself for jaw pain?
When to see the chiropractor?
It is always a good idea to have a professional look in if you suffer from jaw pain. The longer you hang around with symptoms, the longer they generally take to go away. Especially consider visiting the chiropractor if you:
Have been suffering from your symptoms for longer than two weeks
Regularly experiences the combination of headache and jaw pain on one side
Have jaw pain near the ear or radiating ear pain with no obvious infection
Recognise recurring jaw pain due to stress or when tense
Jaw pain from colds persists even after your cold is gone
Jaw pain requires a holistic view
Jaw pain is often a signal that your body is out of balance. With a holistic approach and targeted chiropractic care, we can restore that balance - in a natural, effective way. Want to know if chiropractic care can help you with your jaw pain? Take a no-obligation contact with us for an intake or introductory consultation. You deserve a life without pain - and that starts with listening to what your body is trying to tell you!
