The lower jawbone or mandible is the strongest bone in the human skull, allowing a human to exert a surprising amount of force when biting down. When we have pain in our jaw joint, an everyday task such as chewing our food can cause quite a bit of pain. Issues with our jaw can cause us to hear a clicking noise when moving the jaw, or could even lead to the jaw becoming stuck in an open or closed position. The more we know about common causes of injuries and inury prevention, the better our chances are to avoid jaw pain in the future.
Common Causes
While there are certain diseases such as gum disease that can cause jaw pain, there are a number of other things that can cause pain as well.
- Injury – Experiencing facial trauma or injury to your jaw, the joint, or the muscles of your head and neck can lead to TMD or a broken or dislocated jaw.
- Teeth Grinding/Clenching – Whether caused by stress or something else, tightening your facial and jaw muscles or grinding/clenching your teeth puts a lot of pressure on the joint.
- Arthritis – Pain and stiffness may be caused by arthritis in the joint.
- Cushion/Disc Movement – Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint can cause pain in the jaw.
Common Conditions
Jaw pain can be caused by any of the following common conditions:
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – When the jaw and the muscles in the face are facing problems and immense amounts of pain, these are known as temporomandibular disorders. A common symptom of TJD is a dislocated jaw.
- Dislocated Jaw – A dislocated or broken jaw is an injury to the joints that are connected in the mandible. These joints can break, crack or become “unhinged.” This unhinging is known as dislocation.
- Teeth Grinding – Most people have probably grinded or clenched their teeth before and do it from time to time. The medical term for teeth grinding is bruxism. Teeth grinding that occurs occasionally is not harmful; however, when it occurs on a regular basis it can cause the teeth to become damaged.
- Jaw Fracture – Mandibular fracture, also known as fractures of the jaw, are breaks through the mandibular bone. This is common in many athletes and usually requires that the jaw be wired shut until it heals.
Injury Prevention
John Duncombe, PT, DPT, OCS, CIMT, CSCS, GCS, a Clinical Operations Project Manager, gives us some tips to help prevent and rehabilitate jaw injuries:
- Stay Tall – Make sure to try to keep your chest up, shoulders back, and head in ‘neutral’ as often as possible. No matter the activity, sitting/standing/walking, this position helps to alleviate unneeded stress to your neck muscles, which in turn affect how your jaw functions.
- Keep Your Teeth Slightly Apart as Often as You Can – This will relieve pressure on your jaw. Put your tongue between your teeth to control clenching or grinding during the day. As you go off to sleep, try to consciously relax your jaw and don’t clench your teeth shut. Your dentist may discuss the use of a bite guard while sleeping.
- Eat a ‘Soft Diet’ and Avoid Chewing Gum – According to the TMJ Association, people suffering from TMD should:
- Increase anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish which are high in Omega-3, whole grains, dark leafy greens and soy
- Increase foods that contribute to joint health, including foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and selenium
- A ‘Soft Diet’ consists of well-cooked fruits and veggies, eggs, smoothies, soups and yogurt. Make sure your diet includes healthy portions of protein and vegetables
- Breathe to Release Tension – Stress can cause you to clench your jaw, which can in turn aggravate TMD. Practice breathing in slowly through your nose for five seconds, while releasing the tension in your jaw completely. When you breathe out, also for five seconds, try to relax your jaw even further, really concentrating on slackening each muscle you use to chew.
Rehabilitation
If you have pain in your jaw that isn’t going away, rehabilitation is a great step to take to improve your functionality. During rehabilitation:
- Rocabado 6×6 – Devised by Mariano Rocabado, DPT, this program aims to help restore normal joint mobility in your jaw. The exercises deal with the relationship of your head to neck, neck to shoulders and lower jaw to upper jaw.
- Tuck Your Chin/Set your Ears – Sitting tall and slightly tucking your chin towards your chest as you place your ears on top of your shoulders, will keep your head from falling forward, which contributes to poor jaw alignment and inefficient jaw muscle activation.
- Massage or Gentle Self-Stretching of the Jaw and Neck Muscles – A physical therapist can recommend appropriate stretches or teach massage techniques based on your specific needs.
- Ice Pack and NSAIDs –These may help to temporarily reduce jaw pain, but may not address the underlying cause of the inflammation.
When weighing your treatment options for jaw pain and injuries, consider physical therapy. Physical therapy offers a wide variety of treatment options including strengthening, stretching, and sustainable home exercise programs. Stop in or call any ATI location for a complimentary injury screen or to learn more about how physical therapy can help you overcome your pain.
ATI…we’ll be that jaw-dropping moment!