Craniosacral Therapy for TMJ | Say Goodbye to the Daily Grind

Do you grind or clench your teeth at night?

Are you currently using a mouth guard, or have you been told that you may eventually need one?

Do you experience ringing in the ears, either constant or intermittent?

If you grind or clench your teeth you may also experience pain with chewing or hear a popping noise when your mouth opens or closes. Often, headaches, neck, and shoulder pain can occur.

CranioSacral therapy is a very effective, light-touch therapy that supports the body’s own healing resources to release physical imbalances and restrictions, as well as residual emotional trauma, that has been stored in the body’s membranes and connective tissue. This frees the central nervous system to perform optimally — allowing patients to experience pain relief, stronger immune function and an enhanced sense of well-being.

CranioSacral therapy helps reduce the sympathetic response in the body and helps it return to a place of balance.

CranioSacral therapy follows the osteopathic premise that if structure is normalized, function will follow. The gentle manipulation and adjusting of the cranial bones help balance the body’s system. Dr. John Upledger DO, O.M.M stated: “The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome may be primary or it may be just the tip of the iceberg. The syndrome is part of the whole person and it is the whole person that must be evaluated and treated.” Stress factors of TMJ can be physical, physiological, psycho-emotional or environmental.

CranioSacral treatment can be effective for treating hypertonicity (continual increase in the muscle tension) in the soft tissue which directly impacts the position of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) or malocclusion (misalignment of teeth when jaws are closed). More and more dentists are realizing CranioSacral therapy can be a missing piece to a successful dental procedure.

Teeth or jaw clenching is a natural response to increased stress, chronically compressing the temporomandibular joints. If you are having pain and would like to schedule an appointment, please call 703-532-4892, Ext. 2.

Be Well, Do Good Work,
Pat Alomar, M.S., P.T.