Dentists & Chiropractors Help TMJ Patients

By: Charles Blum, D.C.

While all doctors ultimately want what is best for their patients, sometimes the concept of collaboration isn’t always considered. Historically, chiropractors and dentists would both help treat jaw or TMJ related pain or disorders on an individual basis helping patients as best they can. However, new research has been showing some fascinating relationships between how the body functions from a postural standpoint and how the jaw can respond.

To understand how a relationship between body posture and jaw function could occur, we need to look to some ingrained features of the human nervous system. We have two ways of keeping our heads on straight, one is associated with our eyes and other with the semicircular canals within our ears. They are called the visual and vestibular righting mechanisms. Together, they keep our eyes and ears level to the horizon regardless of any postural imbalance related to our legs, pelvis or spine.

Another important factor that helps us understand the posture and jaw interrelationship is that the body functions as a unit. The jaw or mandible sits in muscles that come off the head and neck. As the head and neck change position due to posture, the jaw muscles are likewise affected. What is fascinating is that a change in posture can affect jaw function, the way the teeth touch, the way the jaw joint is positioned and our ability to breathe.

A 2007 Tufts University study with 45 asymptomatic subjects found that if a dental splint appliance is placed in the mouth preventing the teeth from being in the proper position that this affects the patient’s ability to maintain proper body balance. Then, with the same patients they also found that if they placed a heel lift under one foot, the subject’s teeth would first contact when biting down on the side of the heel lift. This study illustrates how a change in the way teeth contact and the jaw position can affect posture and how body posture can affect teeth contact and jaw position.

What this has developed is a desire in the chiropractor’s part, when working with a patient with a jaw/TMJ problem, to make sure the patient’s posture is in balance in order to facilitate the dentist’s work to balance jaw function. Looking at it from a different angle, after appropriate dental work is performed on a patient, sometimes this change in teeth and jaw position changes a patient’s posture and a chiropractor can help the patient’s body accommodate to these new changes.

Since these concepts are relatively new, it can be challenging to find a dentist or chiropractor willing to co-treat a patient with jaw pain disorders. Not every patient needs this integrative care, but a patient who has concurrent neck or back pain, or is aware of a relationship between jaw and body pain should attempt to see if they are a candidate for this “team” care.

Here is a simple guide to determine how a person may assess their need for TMJ care:

How do you know when you have a TMJ condition that may warrant dental care?

• Does your partner say you are grinding your teeth at night or constantly snore?
• Do you have tooth temperature sensitivity, pain on chewing, or are you wearing your teeth down?
• Did you notice a relationship between orthodontic or dental work and your jaw pain?

These all may warrant a dental evaluation by a dentist trained in TMJ.

How do you know when you have a TMJ condition that may warrant chiropractic care?

• Do you have jaw joint pain, tension, and popping on opening or closing?
• Did your jaw pain start after having some lower back or neck pain?
• Did your neck or low back pain start after having jaw pain?

These all may warrant a chiropractic evaluation by one trained in TMJ care.

How do you know when you have a TMJ condition that may warrant both dental and chiropractic?

• When chiropractic care helps but the condition keeps returning, this commonly necessitates a referral to a dentist.
• When dental care helps but the condition keeps returning, this commonly necessitates a referral to a chiropractor.
• Ideally, before any dental work is finalized and becomes permanent, chiropractic care to balance posture is advised.

The future of healthcare will involve developing a relationship between the different doctors who treat similar conditions with the goal of offering our patients the best possible care. This would involve the least amount of intervention with the best outcomes. It is also important patients become knowledgeable about their condition. They need to be involved in searching for the most updated options for their care.

Dr. Charles Blum is a chiropractor located in Santa Monica, CA. He’s treated TMJ disorders for 30 years. He’s a senior clinical instructor in the Cranial Facial/TMJ Clinic at the White Memorial Center in Los Angeles.

Meet Dr. Cassi!

Why did you decide to become a chiropractor?
I have seen a chiropractor most of my life since I was about 4 years old. My mom broke her neck in high school gym class and has seen a chiropractor ever since to help her maintain mobility in her neck. So I grew up around chiropractic and had always seen a chiropractor for my aches and pains, sports injuries, and throughout both of my pregnancies.

When I went to undergraduate, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor. It had always been my dream to help people. I soon realized that I didn’t want to be involved in western medicine and I was talking to my chiropractor, who I had seen my whole life, about what I should do, and he said, “Cassi, why don’t you become a chiropractor? I’ve seen you most of your life and this is how you practice your own healthcare—why not do that for a living?”

I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t realized that before! After reading a book called Chiropractic First, about the history of chiropractic, I realized that this made sense! I’m a very hands-on person and it sounded like a good career path! So I applied, got in, and the rest is history! I am so glad I’m here and that I made the switch from MD to DC.

What do you enjoy most about your work each day?
Everything! Working with people and helping them is so wonderful. The relationships that I build with my patients are so important to me. We tend to see our patients more often than an MD would and I really love and value that. I really care so much about my patients! It’s great to be able to make someone’s day better and help people feel better.

What do you think someone would be surprised to know about chiropractic?
A lot, unfortunately! I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about what we do as a whole and what we can do. A lot of new patients think we only work on the spine. We can literally adjust every joint in your body. With some of the specialties that I do, I
can even adjust bones in the skull and inner ear. I think there is just an overall lack of education in the community about all of the things that chiropractors can do.

I also think there is a lack of understanding around how chiropractic affects your nervous system. It’s so much more than adjustments—it really helps your brain function better.

What would patients be surprised to know about you?
Well, I talk a lot! So most of my patients know that I have a family and I have two awesome little kids that spend a lot of my free time with. I love all kinds of sports and being very active outdoors. I also love to paint and recently started taking painting classes, which is a big passion of mine. I think if I hadn’t become a doctor, I would have gone the artistic route.

I also specialize in pediatric and family wellness and there are so many things that Dr. Karis and I can help pregnant mamas and kids within those more fragile stages of life. A lot of people don’t understand that pregnant moms and kids can get chiropractic care and just how beneficial it is for them at those stages in life. A lot of people are taught to be afraid to be adjusted at those times, but it’s truly one of the most beneficial times to see a chiropractor because you’re either growing and developing a fetus’s nervous system, or as a child, your nervous system is growing and developing and changing.

Dr. Cassi is now accepting new patients! Please schedule an appointment here.

Why Cooper Chiropractic?

Simply put, we care!

Often, people first visit chiropractors or massage therapists because they’re at the end of their rope. Nothing has worked and they’re tired of being in pain. We’re here to meet you where you’re at with a customized plan that supports you in your health and wellness journey!

We believe in empowerment through education. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and resources you need to feel happy, healthy, and strong.

At Cooper Chiropractic Center for Health and Wellness, we believe that health is a journey, not a destination. We’re here to support you on your path with personalized attention and individualized care—all in a comfortable setting. We are committed to putting our clients first and are here to walk this path with you!

If you’re ready to feel your best, chiropractic can help! Chiropractic is a non-invasive therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. Our team offers a variety of services to help you and your family find optimal wellness.

Not sure where to start?

Give us a call and we’ll help you discover the treatment plan that works best for you.

Back to School Attack of the Backpack

The start of the school year is right around the corner and summer will be coming to an end. With this many of us have already started our back to school shopping and taking advantage of the sales. There is one item that I highly recommend not skimping on: your child’s backpack. Yes, sometimes they want fashion over function but their health and wellness is so much more important! There are stylish and functional “Chiropractor approved” backpacks out there, you just need to know what to look for.

The way you load and carry your backpack is also very important. If the straps aren’t adjusted right or the backpack is too heavy, this too can cause pain and dysfunction. Below is a quick guide to how to find a great backpack and how to carry it once your child makes sure that none of their friends will be carrying the same one on the first day.

1. Choose a backpack that roughly fits the size of your child’s back. Too big will sag down to their buttocks.
2. Find a backpack with padded shoulder straps that will evenly distribute the weight across their shoulders without digging in.
3. Make sure they are wearing both straps over their shoulders. Carrying with just one strap at a time will cause an uneven weight distribution and muscle compensation.
4. Weigh their backpack fully loaded with what they will most likely be carrying every day. It should be no more than 15% of their total body weight.
5. Look for signs of an ill-fitting backpack: pain, red marks from straps, poor posture of arching their back or leaning forward to counter balance the heavy load.

If you have any questions about your child’s backpack or would like us to do a quick assessment, please call our office today!

To Foam Roll or Not to Foam Roll

Foam rolling: is it hype, a fad, beneficial or just plain painful? Let’s explore what foam rolling is first, then we will discuss the when and why.

Foam rolling is a myofascial release technique that uses pressure to reduce and release scar-tissue build up and adhesions in your fascia. This frees up your muscles to move and essentially work better during exercise or any other activity for that matter.

But what is this fascia you always hear about? And why is it so important to movement? Fascia is the web-like fibrous connective tissue that surrounds our muscles, organs, bones and every other internal structure in our bodies. It is a very densely woven matrix that is actually one uninterrupted system that connects every single internal structure. So when fascia develops scar-tissue or adhesions for any reason, it will create restrictions in movement of the attached structures and can also lead to pain in that area.

Now back to the when and why we should all be foam rolling. If you are wanting to quickly decrease your stiffness and aid in your warm-up, you should foam roll before your workout. Foam rolling after your workout is great for decreasing muscle soreness and aiding in muscle recovery from strenuous exercise. If you are wanting to increase your overall mobility and flexibility, foam rolling any time of day regardless of relationship to your workout would be beneficial.

If you have any questions on specific techniques or how to foam roll certain muscles, please contact our office and we would be happy to guide you through the process.

Summer Maintenance Care

After a long wet winter, summer is finally just around the corner… or at least we hope it is. As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, we tend to get busier and pack our days with adventure from sun up to sun down. Whether it be water sports, golfing, hiking, fishing, a tropical vacation, a wedding, a cook-out, or just continued yard maintenance, maintaining proper skeletal alignment can help prevent injury and allow you to move your best all summer long. After being sedentary for the past 8 months, our muscles can’t adapt quickly enough to this rapid increase in activity and they become tight and imbalanced, altering our biomechanics which leads to joints becoming irritated, restricted, and inflamed, and this is when injury occurs.

A maintenance care plan can be done bi-weekly or even monthly and will take no more than 15 minutes out of your busy, hot summer day. After a quick assessment your doctor will be able to identify a potential problem area, even before symptoms arise, as pain tends to be the last thing to show up yet the first to leave. Some simple muscle work, an adjustment, home care advice and potentially some k-tape can all be covered in that time slot and may be the difference between you and a pain free summer. Call today and get your appointments in the books so that you can move your best all summer long!

Class IV Deep Tissue Laser Therapy

Do you have an area of nagging aches and pains that hasn’t resolved despite numerous trials of manual/physical therapy?

Drugs will likely only mask the issue at hand and surgeries should be saved as a last resort option.

Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser from Lightforce can help resolve issues such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, fasciitis, arthritis, and basic tissue repair. It works by emitting a beam of infrared light, and a process known as photobiomodulation, which allows the cells to convert this energy absorbed from the light into energy to aid in cellular repair. Laser therapy also promotes blood flow to the area, further promoting tissue repair while providing a soothing warmth to the tissues. Treatments are pain free and typically last between 3 and 15 minutes depending on the area being treated. Call today and schedule your first laser treatment, or meet with one of our doctors and learn more about how laser therapy can benefit you.

Springing into Yard Work Pain Free

As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, yard maintenance becomes a popular trend as do the aches and pains that come with it. Picking weeds, raking, shoveling, and mowing the lawn can all cause strain on the upper and lower back if they are not performed properly. It is really important to remember some key tips to keeping good posture while performing yard maintenance. For all of these activities you want to do as little bending through the core as possible. For example when picking weeds; try getting down on both knees (may use knee pads) and use one arm to support your upper body while keeping your stomach tight and your back straight, pulling weeds with the non-support hand. Also, try not to reach further than you can comfortably reach with one arm while keeping your upper body level. Stand up to stretch and take a 1-2 minute break every 15-20 minutes. While performing activities such as raking and shoveling, bend your knees slightly and stand with your feet in a staggered position (one in front of the other) pointing in the direction of whatever you are raking or shoveling. Your back hand (likely your dominant hand) should be towards the back end of the handle, while your front hand about 1-2 feet down the handle. Keeping your back straight, hinge forward at the hips using your arms and legs to push/pull. Avoid twisting motions. In addition, with the bipolar nature of the weather in the pacific northwest, one might feel urged to tackle their entire yard on the first sunny day. It is best to break-up projects and start out working only one hour the first day and gradually increase by one hour each day as you condition your body for these out of the ordinary activities. If misfortune should strike and you injure yourself, chiropractic care can help you return to pre-injury status. Chiropractic care can also prevent injuries so it would not be a bad idea to come in and ensure proper alignment before starting yard work. 

Kinesiology Tape

Rock tape, Kinesiotape, and various other brands of elastic therapeutic tape (kinesiology tape or K-tape) are some of the hottest topics and one of the newest trends for treating/preventing sports injuries. Unlike traditional white athletic tape which is stiff and bulky and restricts range of motion therefore hindering athletic performance, k–tape is made of elastic cotton that stretches anywhere between 130%-180% of it’s original length, varying between brands. This elasticity allows the patient/athlete to continue to move through normal ranges of motion without altering the biomechanics of their movements. The tape is latex free and it’s heat-activated acrylic adhesive allows it to stay on for up to 5 days, even through showers and swimming! It works by lifting up the skin and decreasing the pressure on blood vessels and nerve endings, improving blood flow and promoting tissue repair. It also improves muscle function by promoting the brains awareness of the muscles and joints and where they are in space. All of the chiropractors at Cooper Chiropractic are trained and certified in basic kinesiology taping and functional movement taping.  

Immune boosting Tips from your RDN

It’s that time of year…the cold/flu season! Viruses are going around like crazy. Kids are missing school for weeks at a time…If you’re like me, you already take the basic precautions (think copious amount of handwashing, eating well balanced meals and lots of talk with the little ones about sneezing into a tissue, or more likely, their sleeve:)

So WHY are we still getting sick?? Here’s a couple of things that deserve an honest evaluation, as most of these items can all too quickly get out of balance! When it comes to ways to improve our immune system function, there are many key components. Here are some that are worth our attention:

1. Sugar! Too much is never a good thing, but did you know that sugar has the potential to decrease immune system function by 75%, for up to 6 hours after consuming it?! Not only that, but it competes with Vitamin C in our cells. This means that if our system is saturated with glucose (aka sugar), Vitamin C will be displaced and sugar will rule the system function. My best advice is ditch ALL forms of added sugar (immediately if you are already sick).*Don’t stress out if this seems hard, in my practice, we often take a “baby steps” approach to conquering the sugar monster!

 

 

 

 

 

2. Immune Boosting Foods! We’ve always heard, “eat more Vitamin C to fight off colds” and that advice still holds true! We also need increased amounts of Vitamin A and E as well as other key minerals that come mostly from fruits and veggies! The increase in ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and other nasty bugs can be achieved by eating a more colorful diet. Great sources for a variety of colors means making sure your grocery cart contains a rainbow…Think red or dark pink fruits and veggies such as grapefruit, strawberries, watermelon and sweet bell peppers; orange fruits and veggies such as carrots, yams, oranges and peppers; or the very important dark green veggies such as spinach, kale, chard, broccoli and Brussels. The variety of colors means a variety of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants, all of which help our immune system function!

 

 

 

 

 

3. Gut Health! The health of our gut is paramount for immune system function, as 80% of our immune function is located in this area. If we have issues with digestion or absorption, we can have impaired immune system function. The good bugs (aka PROBIOTICS) in our gut matter A LOT. There are many food sources of probiotics, such as fermented foods like kim chi, sauerkraut, kefir, miso and (my favorite) kombucha. There are also quality supplements available to help restore good bacteria into the gut and with that, we can better ward off the bad organisms. The gut can be a very complicated piece of our health puzzle, so if chronic issues like bloating, gas, belching, pain or discomfort (just to name a few) trouble us, we need to seek help, as this is NOT NORMAL. *If you need help and want to better understand your gut issues, please reach out to me, it makes me so happy to remove the word “chronic” from anything unpleasant in your life.

Hydration! Hopefully by now we all understand the importance of carrying around a water bottle. Purchasing a nice one, which keeps things cold (or hot) will be an investment you won’t regrets. THE GOAL? Half of our body weight in ounces, as a minimum is a great starting goal. (If we weight 200#, then we would need 100 ounces daily). We’ll need more water if we exercise, live in warm climates and or if we are fighting an illness or infection, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages, etc. Throughout our day, we can set goals to work towards our daily total (my goal is to finish half of my daily needs before lunch). There are also reminder apps that encourage water consumption and send gentle reminders throughout the day. Bottom line, if our lips and/or skin are dry, we likely need more water!

*Add-ins can make hydrating WAY more fun. Start with half of an organic lemon squeezed into warm water in the morning, aim for 16-20 ounces. Then swap some of that dehydrating coffee (it’s a diuretic) and drink some herbal tea instead. My personal favorite right now is Throat Coat (yes, I too am fighting the virus) by Traditional Medicinals.

 

 

 

4. Sleep! Confession: as I type this important section, I cringe just a little! We all have heard the research. Sleep is key. Without it, we might as well share toothbrushes with the sickest person in the house and prepare for the worst! The majority of us need a minimum of 7-8 hours to be our healthiest. Many need more, especially our kids, those that are sick or that deal with chronic illness or autoimmune issues and the athletes who are training hard most all days of the week. Setting a schedule for bedtime and wake time can help our system work at a more optimal ability.

 

 

 

 

There are TONS of other ways to improve immune system function, but it is already past my bedtime and my goal of 8 hours sleep is no longer a reality so I should wrap up here. My encouragement is this: Challenge yourself. Challenge your kiddos. Remove junk food from the house. Let each family member pick out a new fruit and veggie at the store each week. Pick an accountability buddy and work on your hydration goal together. Establish a family bedtime and make it something you celebrate with wind-down foot rubs, stories, and recaps of the day…and then pray for good sleep!!

***If the struggle is real, I can help. Schedule a complimentary 30 minute free nutrition consult and we can talk about your goals and establish a plan of action that will help improve your health.
***Please note: If you have underlying health conditions or are on prescription drugs, please consult with your doctor before taking recommendations mentioned.