Does Acupuncture for TMJ Work?

Experiencing jaw pain and tension is not a pleasant thing. There are degrees of jaw pain that are mild to downright uncomfortable. 

The sensation of pain can be very local in your jaw, or spread out to your face, ears, and neck and be on one or both sides. Sometimes this pain can cause:

• Headaches

• Migraines

• Neck Pain

• Clicking of Jaw

• Pain eating Hard or Chewy Foods

• Under the Jaw Pain

• Ear Ache

• Reduced Range of Motion of Jaw
  
  

Practitioners that treat TMJ - Temporomandibular Joint Disorder - often use muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, and pain relievers. 

A great place to start with treatment is visiting your Kitchener Waterloo dentist to assess the structure and alignment of your jaw. They will look at your tongue placement and recommend a night guard if they suspect teeth clenching and grinding.

Can Acupuncture reduce my TMJ Pain

Yes, Acupuncture is a treatment therapy based on Traditional Chinese Medicine that's been used for thousands of years to treat pain, inflammation and relax muscle tension.

In my Waterloo practice, I use tiny little points, that I lovingly call “kitten whiskers” to dampen down nerve pain and provide relief. 

The action of these points are very good at reducing inflammation and nerve pain, which allows the Temporomandibular Joint and surrounding tissues to begin healing. After a series of treatments (usually 4-6), there will be a noticeable improvement and longer sustained relief. 

After the initial set of treatments, I will usually suggest we spread out visits to allow continued healing.

How does Acupuncture work

Acupuncture works with the nerves and the brain to stimulate healing. 

TMJ pain involves nerve pain, inflammation, and tightness, and acupuncture directly works with the nerves through the use of acupuncture needles.  These needles increase communication to the brain and Temporomandibular joint to initiate a reduction of inflammation and pain.

In one study, 85% of dental patients who received acupuncture for TMJ had their pain reduced by 75%. How awesome is that! 

Stress, TMJ, and Acupuncture

In my practice, there’s a strong connection between Jaw and Facial pain (TMJ) with stress. Sometimes it’s from being under a lot of stress: either a stressful event, or daily chronic stress that creates tension in the jaw and begins the pain of TMJ.

Other times, there is an event, such as a dental procedure or injury to the jaw that perpetuates the pain and full healing doesn’t occur.

In both cases, acupuncture can definitely help. 

Acupuncture releases endorphins (which naturally reduce pain) and serotonin (which is the “happy” hormone) and allows the jaw to relax and rest. This reduces pain, ache, and fatigue and assists with healing.

I’d love to help, with acupuncture, to reduce your TMJ discomfort. Book in at my Waterloo clinic here: Book Online Here