TMJ Relief in Visalia

Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are the small but powerful hinges that connect your jawbone to your skull, allowing you to talk, chew, yawn, and smile. Like any other joint in the body, they rely on muscles, ligaments, and a small cushion of cartilage (the “disc”) to move smoothly.

When the muscles around the jaw become tight or overworked—often from stress, clenching, grinding, or poor posture—they can pull unevenly on the joint. This can lead to TMJ dysfunction, which may feel like pain, stiffness, clicking, popping, or difficulty opening your mouth fully.

Sometimes the cushioning disc inside the joint slips out of place (disc displacement). This can cause clicking or popping sounds, pain, or even locking of the jaw. Think of it like a door hinge that’s not quite lined up—it still works, but not as smoothly as it should.

The good news is, with the right care—including gentle muscle release, chiropractic treatment, and exercises—the jaw can often move back toward normal function, easing pain and preventing further problems.