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Treating TMJ Disorders

Our Chiropractic Care Improves Jaw Pain

At Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego, we focus on upper cervical care. If you are suffering from the pain and discomfort of TMJ symptoms, you should know that there is an intimate connection between your temporomandibular joints and your upper neck and skull. We use upper cervical care to return your head and neck to a more neutral position with gentle adjustments.

Your upper jaw is attached to your skull, making up 50% of the temporomandibular joint. Upper neck misalignments and TMJ disorders share a strong link to trauma, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Some patients also experience facial pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Gentle upper cervical care from the expert San Diego chiropractors at Intouch Chiropractic offers non-invasive pain relief for TMJ disorders.

By the time someone comes in for a consultation in our office, they have often already seen many specialists. They are still searching for TMJ pain relief and help with their malocclusion symptoms, and it is the unique, custom NUCCA chiropractic treatment plan developed for them at Intouch Chiropractic that finally gets them relief.

How Intouch Chiropractic Helped Faith's TMJ Symptoms

Play VideoPatient giving a testimonial on TMJ treatment and therapy at Intouch ChiropracticPlay Video
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Amazing experience with Intouch Chiropractic. Came here for my TMJ and immediately felt so much better with their treatment. They also have such a caring and helpful staff that makes the whole process easy and extremely pleasant.

Rosiluz A.

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GET SPECIALTY TREATMENT TO

Alleviate TMJ Pain

You can’t have a balanced bite when your head isn’t on straight. One aspect of the work of our NUCCA Upper Cervical Care doctors is to literally get your head on straight – and that helps the biomechanics of your jaw and improves your bite.

The chiropractors at Intouch Chiropractic are experts in their field, helping patients with TMJ disorders in San Diego to great results and TMJ pain relief. We co-manage your care with your dental professional from day one. Our TMJ specialists serve the entire San Diego area and can give you the treatment you need.

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Relieve TMJ Symptoms at the Source

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain
Affects More Than Your Bite

ICCMO is a society of specialized neuromuscular dentists, and these dentists endorse the NUCCA Chiropractic methods we employ at Intouch Chiropractic. We work together with your dental health team to help balance your bite and alleviate TMJ symptoms for TMJ pain relief. By making sure your head, neck, and bite are aligned, we can lastingly alleviate Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and TMJ pain.

TMJ Disorders affect how you bite, chew, drink, talk, swallow, and more. The two temporomandibular joints are located on either side of your mouth, near your ears, and act like a hinge between your upper and lower jaw. When these joints become misaligned, it causes incredible pain and a host of symptoms, including:

  • Neck pain
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Shoulder pain
  • Vision loss
  • Eye pain
  • Hearing loss

Chiropractic Services

Can Complement Orthodontic Work

We recommend that you get treatment for your head tilt before you are fitted for braces, retainers, or night guards. Otherwise, the appliance in your mouth will lock your head tilt in place, especially if it’s a permanent orthotic. If you already had braces as a kid, have a permanent retainer or night guard, or you had jaw surgery in the past, get checked by an upper cervical doctor if you are experiencing shoulder pain, neck pain, headaches, vertigo, or TMJ symptoms. Getting your neck stable will be critical in stabilizing your jaw.

Make an appointment with your dentist, orthodontist, or neuromuscular dentist to ensure that any retainers or appliances are refitted a couple of weeks after beginning upper cervical care. The position of your head and neck will have shifted. Make sure to get an occlusal tune-up with your dentist to make sure that your body posture and your bite are working together instead of against each other. A properly fitted oral appliance directly affects your ability to hold your adjustments and have fewer symptoms. Are you ready to free yourself from pain with our TMJ treatment in San Diego? Schedule an appointment with a TMJ specialist by calling our office or requesting an appointment here.

For more information on chiropractic care for TMJ symptoms, visit our blog posts:

Common Questions

TMJ Disorder FAQs

Have More Questions? Visit Our Full FAQ Page.

What Are the Symptoms of a TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorders often cause jaw or face pain, clicking or popping when you open your mouth, and trouble chewing. Because the joint sits so close to your neck and skull, symptoms frequently include headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, ear pain, and dizziness.
What Causes TMJ Disorders?
TMJ disorders can stem from jaw injury, teeth grinding or clenching, arthritis, and bite misalignment. At Intouch Chiropractic, we also see a strong link to upper cervical misalignment — when your head and neck are out of alignment, it can throw off your jaw's mechanics and make TMJ symptoms harder to resolve.
Can a Chiropractor Help With TMJ Pain?
Yes, especially when upper cervical misalignment is contributing to your symptoms. At Intouch Chiropractic, we use NUCCA Spinal Care to gently realign your head and neck, which can ease jaw strain and the headaches or neck pain often linked to TMJ disorders — without popping, cracking, or invasive treatment.
Does TMJ Pain Go Away on Its Own?
Mild TMJ discomfort sometimes eases with rest, a soft diet, and stress reduction, but persistent clicking, locking, or pain usually points to an underlying misalignment that needs treatment. If symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep returning, it's worth having your jaw and upper neck evaluated.
Can TMJ Problems Affect My Orthodontic Treatment?
Yes. If your head and neck are misaligned before you're fitted for braces, a retainer, or a night guard, that appliance can lock the misalignment in place. We recommend getting checked by an upper cervical doctor before orthodontic work, and again afterward, since your bite and jaw position often shift once your neck is properly aligned.
When Should I Seek Care for TMJ Pain?
If jaw pain, clicking, or stiffness lingers for weeks, keeps returning, or comes with headaches, neck pain, or dizziness, it's time for an evaluation — that's exactly where NUCCA Spinal Care at Intouch Chiropractic can help, addressing the upper cervical misalignment often driving TMJ symptoms. Seek immediate medical care if jaw pain occurs with chest pain, pressure, or shortness of breath, since it can also signal a heart attack.

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