Temporomandibular disorders impact the joint that is located where your skull meets the lower jaw. Some of the common symptoms of TMJ include, but aren't limited to, difficulty chewing, jaw clicking, a dull, achy pain in the facial area, headaches and earaches. These symptoms are caused by the joint being out of alignment and can be a result of muscle fibrous bands (scar like tissues) in the jaw muscles that can occur due to teeth clenching or grinding and poor posture as well. The symptoms come about when muscles tense up causing the skull and lower jaw to pull closer together and end up misaligned, putting pressure on the joint, tearing or stretching ligaments and compressing the disc which pulls it out of position (a common occurrence in whiplash injuries). In some cases this leads to joint degeneration, when the disc wears away, causing the bones to rub against and irritate the nerves.
The body performs perfectly when all of the muscles, bones and joints are properly aligned. If you repetitively slouch in your chair at work, or are hunched over in front of a computer all day, you're basically getting your body in the habit of holding itself in a far from ideal position. Poor posture then causes a domino effect that can cause a long list of problems, including the fact that a misaligned spine may end up causing your lower jaw to thrust outward, create a bad bite, one of the top causes of TMJ. One of the primary causes of TMJ besides posture is trauma that includes dental work, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents.
Upper cervical chiropractors are trained to address any underlying posture problems and help TMJ sufferers. These physicians go beyond just examining your jaw and consider their patient's overall lifestyle. A comprehensive approach to wellness helps them establish the best course of action regarding therapy and upper cervical chiropractic care may be used for treatment of TMJ, based on the cause of the jaw disorder. During the realignment, part of the examination may include pressing on your jawbone, the skull and upper spine which in most cases will increase the jaw's range of motion and relieve irritated nerves. In addition, soft tissue based treatments that include active release techniques might also be incorporated. This tissue based therapy has been proven to break up scar tissues and adhesions on the surrounding ligaments and muscle.
The primary objective of upper cervical chiropractic care is to reverse trauma induced upper neck injuries, whether it's due to factors that range from motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries or poor posture. Upper cervical care will reduce irritation to the brain stems nerves and spinal cord that control the neuromuscular function in the jaw and face.
While many TMJ sufferers remember specific incidences that caused the injuries, a surprising number do not and if the injury was caused by poor posture that makes sense because TMJ symptoms due to posture can take a while to appear. It's important to have an evaluation to assess whether or not an upper cervical related injury exists and whether you can benefit from upper cervical care.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Do you suffer from a temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ? If so, you may suffer from jaw pain when you chew, smile, or even speak. Can upper cervical chiropractic care help you? The answer is yes. In order to understand why, it helps to know a little bit about what causes TMJ and what upper cervical chiropractic can do for you. Read on to learn more.
While TMJ can have numerous causes, the most common is some kind of trauma to the jaw itself or to the upper neck. This is because an injury in the upper neck area (the two uppermost vertebrae that are right at the base of the brain) can put pressure on the trigeminal nerve and also affect posture. When this nerve suffers damage various temporomandibular joint disorders can result.
This helps to explain the connection between upper cervical chiropractic and drug free, natural relief from TMJ. Fixing the upper neck issue can result in relief of the pressure that is on the trigeminal nerve and underlying postural problems. Once this pressure is relieved, this can improve many TMJ symptoms and other conditions.
If you suffer from TMJ and are searching for natural relief, upper cervical chiropractic is a good place to look. An upper cervical chiropractor can do more than just help your posture. These two uppermost neck bones being aligned properly can relieve TMJ symptoms, headaches, and many other related conditions. Why not have a upper cervical specialist check out your neck to see if you could benefit from this specific and gentle type of chiropractic care.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
It is the most common reason for jaw pain other than dental reasons, like a toothache. Sufferers of this type of disorder may also experience tightening and restricted motion of these muscles.
If you’ve ever noticed a clicking sound when you chew – you are experiencing symptoms of TMJ. It can also mimic the feelings of tooth pain, cause headaches and ringing in the ears and dizziness. Surprisingly, a large number of the adult population is affected by this – anywhere between 20-30% of us, usually those between the ages of 20 and 40. It is more common for women to suffer from this than men. One of the most common causes for this type of pain is car accidents or other trauma. The symptoms can appear immediately after the trauma, or they can take years to become noticeable.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a specific speciality of chiropractic which puts its emphasis on the atlanto-occipital joint in the upper spine. This division of chiropractic has been in practice since the 1930’s. It has many positive effects on the alignment of the spine, posture and the symptoms experienced by those who suffer with TMJ. It is supported by many years of anecdotal and empirical evidence. The purpose of upper cervical chiropractic for TMJ is to reverse the damage done by the trauma that caused it.
An upper cervical chiropractor corrects posture and alignment of the head, neck and spine, which can relieve painful symptoms of many disorders, including TMJ. Upper cervical chiropractic is safe, precise and gentle. When your muscles and bones are pulling evenly they each carry the weight and perform the functions they were meant to do, so they are not overly taxed or burdened with tasks and weights they were not meant to carry.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Temporomandibular joint disorder involves a collection of symptoms, including pain and tenderness of the muscles that we use to chew and the jaw joint known as the TMJ (temporomandibular joint), as well as of several sites along the head and neck.
The pain is usually worse in the morning, and the person commonly has a history of stress and difficulty in sleeping. Jaw movement may be accompanied by grinding, clicking, catching, and popping, resulting in restricted or deviated motion during opening or closing of the mouth.
Traditionally, dentists and orthodontists seek to change the person's bite in order to deal with TMD. Medical doctors use surgery and drugs in their approach to TMD.
But, new research from The Upper Cervical Research Foundation is showing dramatic improvement in patients with jaw pain following a natural approach. In the study, patients with Jaw pain or TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) were referred for NUCCA evaluation and care. Over an 8 week period all patients had a dramatic improvement in their TMJ symptoms.
Their jaw pain before treatment averaged of 5.9/10 on the pain scale. Following 8 weeks of NUCCA care the average dropped down to 0.9/10 an 85% improvement! Several other research studies have been conducted over the years showing the connection between the upper neck and the jaw.
The NUCCA approach involves rebalancing the position of the head, the neck and as a consequence, the jaw. NUCCA spinal care is safe, gentle, precise and extremely effective.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Jaw pain, headaches and upper cervical chiropractic
A recent news story discussed that it is common for people suffering with temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJ to have facial asymmetry. Research also supports that TMJ dysfunction is frequently related to facial asymmetries.
The jaw joints, also known as the TMJ is a focal point of all jaw related movements such as talking and chewing foods. The muscles, tendons and bones in the TMJ can suffer functional issues for various reasons. The resulting symptoms include pain, lockjaw, clicking noises when moving the lower jaw, or even asymmetry.
For example, if you habitually chew food with one side of your teeth, the favored side wears down due to overuse. This results in uneven teeth that twist to one side, resulting in facial asymmetry. Also the habit of favoring one side for chewing can develop the muscles in one side more than the other, resulting in different volumes of muscles in the left and right sides. If you touch your cheeks while keeping the jaws clamped, and notice that there is a definite difference between left and right, you can be pretty sure that you have an imbalance of the masseter muscles. Favoring hard-to-chew foods such as nuts, or chewing on your nails or pens, or propping up your chin with one hand can also cause TMJ disorder resulting in facial asymmetry.
Asymmetry can also be caused by poor posture and seemingly harmless habits that can cause imbalance in our bodies. Sitting with our legs crossed, leaning on one leg while standing or twisting the body to play musical instruments such as a violin, or even writing with and brushing paints can cause imbalance in the vertebrae. TMJ is often referred to as the C0 vertebra due to its connection to the cervical vertebrae. In a certain sense, the 24 vertebrae can be compared to bricks that are laid on top of another. Just as a wrongly laid foundation can cause a crooked tower, imbalance in the spine can also affect TMJ that can cause facial asymmetry.
The Atlas vertebra, also known as C1 is the top bone in the spine. This is the bone where the heavy head rests. The joint between the Atlas and the skull can frequently become damaged and misaligned due to head and neck injuries. Once the position of this upper neck and skull area has been altered compensations will develop both below and above the area.
Below the area, the muscles around the shoulders will begin to pull unevenly leading to a tilting of the shoulder girdle. Frequently, you’ll be able to visualize this when you look in the mirror. One shoulder will be noticeably higher than the other.
Continuing down the spine the muscles will continue to be imbalanced as a result of the misalignment in the upper neck and the change in the head position.
This will lead to a similar tilting of the hip position leading to uneven hips. And eventually a change in weight distribution where more of the weight will be on one leg, frequently leading to uneven wear patterns on the shoes.
Above the Atlas misalignment, the TMJ will frequently be affected. As the head tilts to one side more pressure will be applying to one side of the jaw. The longer this misalignment is there the more likely there will be facial asymmetry.
The Atlas vertebrae can be realigned using a specialized procedure known as NUCCA.
Research has shown a greater than 85% improvement in those suffering with TMJ following NUCCA spinal care. Several other research studies have been conducted over the years showing the connection between the upper neck and the jaw.
The NUCCA approach involves rebalancing the position of the head, the neck and as a consequence, the jaw. NUCCA spinal care is safe, gentle, precise and extremely effective.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Natural TMJ ReliefTemporomandibular joint disorder involves a collection of symptoms, including pain and tenderness of the muscles that we use to chew and the jaw joint known as the TMJ (temporomandibular joint), as well as of several sites along the head and neck.
The pain is usually worse in the morning, and the person commonly has a history of stress and difficulty in sleeping. Jaw movement may be accompanied by grinding, clicking, catching, and popping, resulting in restricted or deviated motion during opening or closing of the mouth.
Traditionally, dentists and orthodontists seek to change the person's bite in order to deal with TMD. Medical doctors use surgery and drugs in their approach to TMD.
But, new research from The Upper Cervical Research Foundation is showing dramatic improvement in patients with jaw pain following a natural approach. In the study, patients with Jaw pain or TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) were referred for NUCCA evaluation and care. Over an 8 week period all patients had a dramatic improvement in their TMJ symptoms.
Their jaw pain before treatment averaged of 5.9/10 on the pain scale. Following 8 weeks of NUCCA care the average dropped down to 0.9/10 an 85% improvement! Several other research studies have been conducted over the years showing the connection between the upper neck and the jaw.
The NUCCA approach involves rebalancing the position of the head, the neck and as a consequence, the jaw. NUCCA spinal care is safe, gentle, precise and extremely effective.
To schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Jaw PainThe lower jaw is connected to the skull by the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) which is located in front of each ear. These are complicated joints which allow the lower jaw to open, close, slide and rotate. On an average, the TMJ is used over 5000 times each day when we we chew, swallow, yawn, smile, laugh, eat and speak!
TMJ pain is mainly caused due to damage to the joint itself. Any kind of trauma can affect the TMJ can cause immense pain and dysfunction. Mostly sports injuries, car accidents, dental work may be the reason of TMJ disorder. Other things like excessive gum chewing, teeth clenching, nail biting, holding a phone between your shoulder and the side of the head are potential threats as well. The symptoms of TMJ vary from person to person and can affect one or both joints. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may include clicking or popping of the joint, pain with or without chewing, locking of the jaw toothache, facial and/or neck pain, headaches, earaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and clogged or stuffy ear.
TMJ pain and dysfunction can be helped through Upper Cervical Chiropractic. Upper cervical x-rays are taken and adjustments are made with the purpose of correcting the alignment of the upper cervical spine. This can have dramatic effects on those that are suffering with jaw pain or TMJ dysfunction. Because the upper neck is intimately connected to jaw function both because of posture and nerve connections.
The upper cervical doctors are experts in the top two bones in the neck and, most importantly, the brain stem. When a misalignment occurs between the head and neck at the level of the top two bones in the neck, brain to body communication is disrupted. This can result in TMJ pain, facial pain, ringing in the ears, headaches and much more.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic was developed by B.J.Palmer in the starting of 1930s and is a branch of Chiropractic. This gentle, non-invasive approach makes a dramatic impact on the central nervous system, which affects almost every function of the human anatomy which include feeling sensations in your fingers to regulating hormones, controlling movement, and providing the ability to hear, see, think, and breathe.
If you suffer from TMJ and are searching for natural relief, upper cervical chiropractic is a good place to look. An upper cervical chiropractor can do more than just help your posture. These two uppermost neck bones being aligned properly can relieve TMJ symptoms, headaches, and many other related conditions. Why not have an upper cervical specialist check out your neck to see if you could benefit from this specific and gentle type of chiropractic care.
To find a doctor in your area go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
