Acupuncture for TMJ

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TMJ or the temporomandibular joint is the part of the body that connects your jawbone to the skull and acts as a hinge. This allows the mouth to open and close. However, there are some who experience TMJ disorder (TMJD), also known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD), where it causes pain in the jaw joint and muscle making basic month functions difficult. But, acupuncture can help you.

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irvine acupuncture for tmj jaw pain
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Table of Contents

TMJ Information

It was found that TMJ disorder affects between 5% and 12% of the U.S population [2] but luckily, there are ways to manage it. There is one treatment that is recommended by both dentists and chiropractors because it’s so effective. It’s acupuncture for TMJ.

Symptoms Of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

If you are wondering if you are experiencing temporomandibular disorders (TMD), here are some symptoms you may be experiencing:

  • Pain or tenderness of your jaw
  • Pain in the temporomandibular joints
  • Aching pain in and around your ear
  • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
  • Aching facial pain
  • Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
  • Clicking or grating sensation when moving the mouth
  • Tired feeling or pain in your face
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What Is Acupuncture For TMJ?

Acupuncture for TMJ uses thin metallic needles to target acupoints, specific points in the body, to stimulate the flow of body energy called qi. It is believed that blockage of qi causes an imbalance of qi and as result, causes problems in the body. By using acupuncture needles, an acupuncturist can effectively target meridians pathways, pathways where qi flows. This process opens the flow of qi and this results in the natural healing of the body and alleviation of pain symptoms.

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Why Acupuncture For TMJ?

Acupuncture for temporomandibular disorders can effectively treat the jaw discomfort caused by TMD. Also, there are some additional benefits that give more of a reason to choose acupuncture for TMJ. Some additional benefits of acupuncture for TMD are:

  • Inflammation: It was found that acupuncture is able to reduce inflammation and swelling.
  • Migraines: In some cases, TMD is known to have symptoms of migraines. Acupuncture is able to help relieve symptoms of migraines.
  • Pain in your neck or shoulders: Acupuncture can treat pain that is associated with temporomandibular disorders.
  • Arthritis: TMJ disorder is believed to be associated with arthritis and acupuncture is known to be able to treat its symptoms.
  • Stress: Acupuncture can be used to treat stress which is found to be on factor to cause TMD.

Note: Acupuncture for TMJ dysfunction can also be considered as acupuncture for jaw pain because it treats pains around the jaw.

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The Effectiveness Of Acupuncture For TMJ

Acupuncture can be used as a complementary treatment to other treatments that your dentist or chiropractor may use. It can also be used as an alternative treatment. It is even recommended by dentists and chiropractors. Acupuncture for TMJ disorder was found to be an effective treatment for TMD.

In one study done, it looked at different cases of acupuncture being used to treat TMJ disorders. They determined the effectiveness by using VAS (visual analog scale), a subjective measure for acute and chronic pain, as their outcome. They compared two groups: an acupuncture group and a control group. In this comparison, they were able to find that the VAS significantly decreased in the acupuncture group compared to the control group. With that, the study concluded that acupuncture for TMJ is effective in reducing the degree of pain in patients with TMD, especially those with myofascial pain symptoms [1].

Additional Info

In many cases, the cause of TMD is unknown. Sometimes the cause of TMJ disorder has to do with the cartilage and the small shock-absorbing disk that covers the temporomandibular joint. TMD causes include:

  • The erosion or the misalignment of the disk
  • The cartilage of the joint is damaged by arthritis like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
  • The joint is damaged by a blow or other impact
  • Whiplash
  • Stress
  • Grinding or clenching your teeth
  • Bad posture
  • Excessive use of chewing gum
  • Connective tissue diseases that affect the TMJ

Some home remedies for TMJ disorders can help with managing the pain and with the healing process. Some remedies include:

  • Eating soft foods
  • Have good posture
  • Learn to manage stress
  • Stretching and massaging the jaw
  • Use heat or cold to treat the pain
  • Avoid extreme or unnecessary jaw activities

For TMD, there are certain groups of people who are more at risk of developing the condition. These factors include:

  • Stress: This can cause jaw clenching, biting nails, grinding your teeth, increase muscle tension, etc. These things can eventually lead to TMD.
  • Age: Most cases of TMJ disorder was found in people between the ages of 20 and 40.
  • Gender: It was found that the condition affects women more.
  • Previous jaw injury: Those with previous jaw injuries have an increased risk in TMD.
  • Poor posture: Bad posture can lead to abnormalities of normal jaw muscle function.
  • Health issues: Issues like arthritis can cause or increase the risk of TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ is used to describe the joint and can be sometimes be used erroneously for the actual condition. The condition is properly known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD) or TMJ disorder. It can also be known as TMJ dysfunction.

[1] Wu, Jun-Yi et al. “Acupuncture therapy in the management of the clinical outcomes for temporomandibular disorders: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.” Medicine vol. 96,9 (2017): e6064. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000006064

[2] “Prevalence of TMJD and Its Signs and Symptoms.” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/facial-pain/prevalence.

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Dr. Chun-Ming Fu Ph.D.

  • Expert
    -California Board certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist
    -M.S. and a Ph.D. in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
    -A third-generation Chinese Medical practitioner
  • Recognized
    -2020 Best of Irvine Awards in the category of Health Services
    -Clinic Award for academic achievement and outstanding services
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    "I highly recommend Dr. Fu if you want to try acupuncture. I was skeptical of acupuncture before, but at that moment I decided to give a try. Dr. Fu is very professional, knowledgeable and patient." - M.Z (Irvine, CA)
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