If your jaw clicks, locks, or just hurts all the time, it’s not something you should ignore. TMJ jaw pain can sneak into your life in subtle ways—starting with tension in your temples or a tight jaw when you wake up. Before long, you’re avoiding chewy foods, clenching your teeth through the day, or even dealing with chronic headaches and neck stiffness.
Sound familiar?
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems can mess with your ability to eat, speak, sleep, and focus. Left untreated, they often get worse—not better. And unfortunately, many people don’t realize the jaw joint is at the root of their symptoms.
What Exactly Is TMJ Jaw Pain?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint—the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When this joint becomes strained, inflamed, or misaligned, it can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Clicking or popping when you open or close your mouth
- Headaches or migraines
- Ear pain or ringing (tinnitus)
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Difficulty chewing or opening your mouth fully
- A jaw that locks open or shut
- Jaw discomfort as a result of teeth clenching or grinding
So what causes TMJ pain? It can come from clenching or grinding your teeth (often while you sleep), poor posture, injury, arthritis, misaligned teeth or bite issues, or even stress.
The frustrating part? TMJ disorders can go misdiagnosed for years because symptoms mimic other conditions like ear infections or tension headaches.
A Holistic Approach to TMJ Relief in Burnaby: Dr. Ivy Yu Can Help
At My Smile Health Centre in Burnaby, Dr. Ivy Yu takes a different approach to TMJ jaw pain treatment. Instead of simply masking symptoms with medication, her holistic philosophy digs deeper to address the root cause of your jaw dysfunction.
TMJ pain isn’t just a dental problem—it’s a whole-body issue. Dr. Yu considers how your posture, airways, bite, stress levels, and even sleep quality might be contributing to your discomfort.
Using advanced diagnostics and a range of non-invasive therapies, Dr. Yu personalizes each TMJ treatment plan to help relieve pain, improve jaw function, and support overall health. Treatment might include:
- Neuromuscular balancing
- Oral appliances or splints
- Airway and breathing evaluations
- Postural and muscle assessments
- Bite alignment therapy
- Stress management strategies
- Program of exercises to improve tongue and facial muscle function / habits (Oral myofunctional therapy)
This comprehensive, whole-person care helps you not only feel better—but heal better for long term.
What Happens When You Actually Treat TMJ Pain?
When TMJ pain is treated properly, it doesn’t just improve your jaw—it improves your life.
Imagine having more restful sleep and waking up without muscle or jaw pain or soreness. The relief of pounding headaches. Imagine eating a steak or apple without discomfort. Imagine going through your day without that nagging neck tension or fatigue from poor sleep. That’s what effective TMJ treatment can do.
But here’s the truth: if you ignore it, it’s probably not going to go away and may even get worse. TMJ disorders don’t typically resolve on their own. In fact, untreated TMJ pain can lead to worn-down teeth, chronic inflammation, poor sleep, and long-term joint damage.
You don’t have to live like that.
Take the First Step Toward a Pain-Free Jaw Today
If you’ve been living with jaw pain, popping, headaches, or facial tension, don’t wait for it to get unbearable. There is a solution—and it starts with the right diagnosis and a treatment plan designed just for you.
Dr. Ivy Yu and the caring team at My Smile Health Centre in Burnaby are here to listen, assess, and help you finally feel like yourself again.
Book your TMJ consultation today and explore how holistic TMJ Jaw Pain Treatment can relieve pain, restore jaw function, and help you feel like yourself again—naturally.
