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Jaw pain can be caused by a number of different factors, and can cause significant discomfort when eating, speaking and sleeping. I can provide effective jaw pain treatment in Bristol for patients.
Discomfort from jaw pain can range from mild to severe, with causes such as stress, teeth grinding, neck injury, headaches, or temporo-mandibular joint(TMJ) disorders.
I provide jaw pain treatments in Bristol using a manual osteopathic approach to the jaw area and surrounding structures to reduce pain and improve jaw function.
What causes jaw pain?
One of the most common causes of jaw pain that I treat in Bristol is TMJ disorder, the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
Symptoms can include clicking sounds, headaches, ear pain and difficulty opening and closing the mouth.
Other causes of neck pain are:
Teeth grinding/clenching (bruxism)
Dental infections & abscesses
Jaw joint arthritis
Stress-related muscle tension
Jaw injuries/trauma
Sinus infections
Neck tension & mobility issues
Effective jaw pain treatments
There are different jaw pain treatments available in Bristol, largely depending on the severity of the discomfort and the underlying causes. These can include:
TMJ treatment: dentists or TMJ specialists often recommend mouth guards to prevent teeth grinding while sleeping.
Osteopathy and other physical therapy: this helps to strengthen jaw muscles and improve alignment.
Stress management: techniques such as meditation or relaxation exercises can help to reduce stress and jaw clenching.
Dental treatment: when jaw pain is caused by dental issues such as infections, cavities or misaligned teeth, dental treatment can help with fillings, root canals and extractions.
How can an osteopath treat jaw pain?
The jaw often responds quickly to treatment, and when I provide jaw pain treatments in Bristol for patients, they are usually resolved within 2-6 sessions at my Henleaze-based clinic.
Some of the ways an osteopath treats jaw pain may include:
Examine TMJ movement
Gentle joint movement
Release muscle tension
Soft tissue release work
Neck & muscle treatments
Identify postural issues
Review predisposing factors
A good osteopath will look at the whole body, holistic solutions, not just the immediate area of pain. For example, jaw muscles can cause tension in the neck and intense headaches.
My initial consultations for jaw pain treatment are up to one hour in length, and usually include 30-minute follow-up treatment sessions.
When to see a jaw pain specialist
If you are experiencing jaw pain that lasts longer than a few days, becomes severe, or interferes with your daily activities, it is important to seek professional help.
Any difficulty chewing, locking of the jaw, persistent headaches or swelling in the jaw are all signs that medical attention may be required.
There are times when a qualified dentist, oral surgeon or TMJ specialist can be required to effectively diagnose the issue and help create a bespoke jaw treatment plan.
To find out more about what an osteopath can treat, please read this.
For a consultation with me at my BS6 clinic for jaw pain treatment in Bristol, please book here.