Jaw Pain, Headaches, Ear Pain... Oh My!

Jess Meeusen, DPT

Jaw pain, headaches, ear pressure—even toothaches—can all be connected. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are often overlooked, yet common habits and stress-related clenching can play a major role in these symptoms. With a better understanding of your jaw and a few simple changes, relief may be closer than you think ...

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It is a small joint that connects the jaw (mandible) to your skull (temporal bone). TMJ dysfunction or TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders) can present as neck pain, jaw pain, headaches, muscle tightness, ear pain, ringing in the ears or toothaches. Patients may also notice the jaw popping, locking, or grinding.

These symptoms can occur if you grind your teeth, clench, recently had a dental procedure, have had a jaw injury or arthritis. And simple, everyday repetitive use of the jaw, including gum chewing, smoking, biting your lip, biting finger nails, playing an instrument, and/or chewing on hard food can aggravate TMJ dysfunction.

Clenching

Did you know that anytime your teeth are touching you are clenching?

It is normal for us to have areas of our bodies that tighten up when we experience stress.

including jaw clenching. Mos tof us clench our jaws without realizing we are doing it. On top of stress, did you know many of us tend to clench or grind our teeth while we sleep?

If you are experiencing jaw pain, it is important to avoid clenching as best as you can, to avoid additional strain to your teeth and TMJ.

In order to avoid clenching throughout your waking hours it's helpful to understand the proper resting position of the jaw. A quick, five-step guide to try includes:

• Allowing a small space between your teeth

• Keeping mouth closed and relax lips

• Lightly touching tip of tongue where the roof of your mouth meets behind your top teeth

• Gently press the rest of tongue to the roof of your mouth

• Focusing on breathing slowly and steadily through your nose.

With practice, this can become a more natural state, allowing for the muscles of the jaw to fully relax.

Ear pain and toothaches

Did you know that TMJ or TMD can present with an ear ache or a toothache?

If you are experiencing ear pain, fullness in your ear, ear ringing or a toothache, this may be

because of TMJ dysfunction. The TMJ is located just in front of the ear. The ear and the TMJ share nerve pathways that can cause you to feel pain in your ear and/or your jaw. Tendons and ligaments of the TMJ can be pushed or pulled due to tightness or be surrounded by inflammation or irritation that can radiate into different locations such as your ear or teeth. There is also a muscle called the lateral pterygoid that contributes to the primary function of the jaw. This muscle possesses trigger point referral patterns to the ear or teeth. Long story short ... Your jaw, teeth, and ear are so closely connected that they can

interfere with each other's functions.

Physical therapy can help

First, a BR physical therapist will help differentiate if your any ear pain or tooth ache will

require further intervention from your dentist or primary care physician. From there ...

Physical therapy should improve symptoms using interventions to release muscle tension and improve the strength of the muscles surrounding the TMJ. This helps avoid compressing and overloading the TMJ further.

Physical therapy can also address larger postural concerns, including the neck, shoulders and spine that may be exacerbating TMJ overload.

Physical therapy should also provide personalized, ongoing treatment plans, including sleeping habits, lifestyle changes and home exercise to help reduce pain and dysfunction going forward.

And, as always, your PT at Body Renovation will collaborate with your dental professional, primary care or specialist to provide you with the best outcome long term.

The first step to relieving that nagging jaw pain ... BOOK ONLINE or give us a call at (262) 375-1075. We have specialists across our clinics, from Grafton and Whitefish Bay to Wauwatosa!