Do you have chronic jaw pain?
The joint that connects your jaw to your head is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). When there are problems with this joint, it can cause a lot of discomfort and difficulty in moving your jaw. TMJ disorders (TMJD) can include a variety of issues, all of which affect how your jaw moves and feels. Some of the most common symptoms of TMJ disorders are:
Neck Pain
Headaches
Painful Clicking
Decreased Motion
Teeth Grinding
Jaw Clenching
Ear Pain
Ear Fullness
TMJD and Your Neck
TMJD can be categorized into two types:
Muscular Dysfunction - the surrounding muscles
Articular Dysfunction - the actual joint
Fortunately, the most common causes of TMJD stem from varying levels of muscle imbalance in the jaw, which alters the movement of the joint. One lesser-known cause is a change in posture and head and neck alignment, known as an Atlas Displacement (AD).