My husband has crunching noises in his jaw when he eats. Is this something chiropractic can help?"

Thank you for your question, Pat. The answer is yes. The click you hear when your husband chews is a tiny piece of cartilage in the temporal-mandibular joint, more commonly known as the TMJ. The cartilage gets trapped in the joint for a brief moment and is suddenly released causing the click that is heard. It can happen with opening or closing the mouth and sometimes with both. Some symptoms that may be associated with the "clicking" jaw include jaw pain, headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, neck pain and pain across the shoulders.

There are many possible causes for TMJ problems, some of which include muscle imbalances in the head and neck, spinal curves that cause the head to lean to one side, trauma to the jaw, and improper tooth alignment causing the jaw to be crooked when the teeth are clenched together.

Chiropractic with kinesiology is a very effective means for treating the patient with TMJ problems. It helps straighten the spine and correct the involved muscular imbalances. When appropriate, the TMJ can be aligned with soft chiropractic techniques. It is sometimes necessary to have the bite balanced by a dentist, in conjunction with chiropractic care, to give the most complete correction.

Original publication The Town Line newspaper South China, ME 04358
Information contained herein furnished by Nadeau Chiropractic Wellness Center
2135 N. Belfast Ave, Augusta, ME