Alleviate Facial Pain with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

What causes a clicking jaw?

The question is, do you simply want to treat the symptom?

Even if it isn’t causing you pain, a clicking jaw can be associated with so many other health issues: headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder tightness, and - believe it or not - lower back pain and even fibromyalgia. A clicking jaw may actually be an early sign of something more significant going on with your body and with your health. Especially i you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, have you ever considered the possibility that they may be connected?

The question is, do you simply want to treat the symptom? Or do you want to resolve the cause of the problem? Many people don’t feel any sense of urgency to get treatment for a clicking jaw unless it causes pain when you chew or open your mouth. If this has ever happened to you - especially if your mouth locked open or closed - it can be quite scary! You may have searched for a “jaw specialist” or “temporomandibular TMJ specialist” to help you. You may also have asked your dentist if they know what is going on.

However, if you are still looking for answers - and ideally, a natural solution - here is where a specific form of healthcare, upper cervical care may be able to help you. Because when it comes to a clicking jaw, the problem may not be coming from your mouth at all. It could well be coming from the base of your skull in your upper neck.

What no one has ever told you about a Clicking Jaw

So what’s the deal with that jaw clicking sound?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw joint is formed between the pair of temporal bones, which are located along the sides of the skull behind your ear and the mandible, which forms the lower part of your mouth. The condole of the mandible is the rounded protuberance that sits inside the socket of the temporal bone, allowing for the opening-and-closing action of the mouth. The action is assisted by the semi-flexible nature of the mandible when the jaw muscles as activated.

So what’s the deal with that jaw clicking sound? Between the condyle of the mandible and the temporal bone socket is a small cartilaginous disc called a meniscus. The meniscus of the jaw is not unlike the cartilage inside of your knees, just much smaller and thinner. It’s function is to assist with smooth movement as you open-and-close your mouth.

I something has caused that meniscus to shift out of position - even a few millimeters - it can start to rub against the adjacent bone and making a “click” sound when you open your mouth. Most characteristically, in my years of practice, it is because the condyle of the mandible is jammed too far backwards, and the meniscus has shifted too far forwards. The question now is, “What causes the jaw and the meniscus to shift like that?”

The most likely cause is a physical injury.

However, it is also likely that it was something...

It could be something major such as a fall where you smacked your chin on a table. It could also be something less memorable but still significant like biting on a cherry pit, which leveraged against your teeth and caused your jaw to shift. However, it is also likely that it was something that didn’t directly affect your jaw at all, but actually affected your upper neck.

What is the role of your Upper Neck in a Clicking Jaw?

And in order to affect jaw position...

The muscles that control the position and movement of your jaw are all controlled by a single branch of the trigeminal nerve. The nerve fibres allow for muscle contraction and relaxation, and also the sensory feedback signals the provide information about jaw position sense. Here is the fascinating part: the group of brain cells that receive that sensory information (called the spinal trigeminal nucleus) actually descends to the level of C2 (and even as low as C4) in the upper cervical spine!

The importance of this arrangement is not to be underestimated! The vertebrae in the upper part of your neck - specifically the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) - contain thick ligaments that anchor onto the spinal cord. These ligaments assist with normal protection of the spinal cord. However, if you have ever suffered a whiplash-type injury where your head snapped back-and-forth, it can disrupt the normal alignment and motion of these vertebrae. If that happens, the normal protective function of these ligaments can create a physical pull on the brainstem, which can lead to neurological or other health issues.

Now, your body is not so fragile that things will break down all at once. Instead, your body will work to compensate by shifting the pressure into other parts of the body, potentially affecting head, neck and jaw position. … And in order to affect jaw position, your brain will change the activity of the muscles that allow you to move your mouth, causing one side to relax and the other side to tighten.

This change - multiplied by days, weeks or even years - can cause the TMJ to start to rub, and voila (!), you can experience a clicking jaw. As I mentioned before, a clicking jaw doesn’t always have pain associated with it. That said, if you experience clenching, tension or grinding (called bruxism), these may also be indicators of the underlying problem. If left to progress, the symptoms can evolve into nastier things including headaches on the side of your head or the back of your neck, a variety of TMJ disorders, a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia, arthritis and even fibromyalgia. And all this not even starting in your jaw, but all stemming from an issue with the alignment and movement of your upper neck.

Can Upper Cervical Care Help your Clicking Jaw?

The procedure first involves a focused history...

If you are looking for a natural solution to help your clicking jaw, it is essential that the top bones in your neck are moving properly and aligned. There are many types of therapy that focus on the TMJ and even on the upper neck. However, if you have not found a solution that works for you, it is possible that you have a more specific condition that requires a specific solution.

If so, here is where upper cervical care may be able to help you. Upper cervical care is a unique approach to chiropractic developed in the USA that focuses on the alignment of the upper neck without cracking or spinal manipulation. People are often amazed how how even such light force - the equivalent of what we would use to palpate your pulse - can make such substantial difference!

The procedure first involves a focused history that includes a structural analysis to determine where you hold your physical stress in your body. The second step involves a neurological assessment in order to establish your baseline pattern for where your health currently is. The third step involves a series of customized x-rays that we are able to perform on site, which reveal the degree of misalignment in your neck, and thus where we need to focus our efforts.

Although upper cervical care is not a treatment for a clicking jaw per se, indirectly it can have a massive impact in helping to improve normal jaw movement and in providing relief from TMJ issues, headaches, neck pain and all kinds of related conditions.

Have you Tried Upper Cervical Care to Help Your Clicking Jaw?

From a neurological, muscular and health perspective, it is impossible to separate the TMJ from the upper neck. They work as one functional unit. Therefore, in the treatment and management of conditions including a clicking jaw or other jaw problems, it is essential to also assess the alignment and motion of the upper neck.

Our practice, located in Boise is dedicated to helping people with head, neck and jaw-related conditions that are affecting their ability to enjoy the success, freedom and life that they desire. If you are looking for natural treatment to help with your clicking jaw or other health concerns, please contact our practice in Boise at (208) 901-0327 to find out if upper cervical care is right for you.