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How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Improve Jaw Function Beyond TMJ Disorders

7/21/2025

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How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Improve Jaw Function Beyond TMJ Disorders
When people hear about jaw issues, the term “TMJ” often takes center stage. But what if jaw function challenges extend beyond the typical TMJ diagnosis? From uneven bite pressure to clicking sounds, jaw dysfunction can be subtle, persistent, and often misunderstood.

Fortunately, at Healthy Living Spinal Care in Hickory, NC, Dr. Joey Miles is helping patients discover how upper cervical chiropractic care can influence jaw alignment and function in ways that go far beyond TMJ relief.


Serving residents of Hickory, Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, Statesville, and surrounding communities, Dr. Miles focuses on the upper cervical spine—home to the atlas and axis vertebrae—which play a foundational role in jaw mechanics. Misalignment in this region can disrupt nerve flow, muscle tension, and even jaw tracking, leading to dysfunction over time.
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Understanding Jaw Function and Its Neurological Roots


The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is only one part of a complex system involving muscles, nerves, and bones that all contribute to how your jaw opens, closes, and moves. This system is influenced by the trigeminal nerve—one of the most complex cranial nerves responsible for facial sensation and motor function of the jaw. This nerve network stems from the brainstem, which is located just above the upper cervical spine.

If the upper cervical spine becomes misaligned—often from past injuries, poor posture, or chronic stress—it can impact the nerve communication traveling from the brainstem to the jaw muscles. The result? Muscle tightness, clenching, uneven movements, or poor jaw mechanics that might not be classified as TMJ, but are just as frustrating.
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The Atlas and Axis: Silent Players in Jaw Stability


The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae sit directly beneath the skull, supporting the head while allowing a wide range of motion. Their alignment is essential not just for head and neck mobility, but also for balanced muscular and neurological function throughout the face and jaw. When these vertebrae shift out of position, it can cause compensations in how the jaw tracks—sometimes resulting in tightness, misaligned bites, or even asymmetrical muscle use.

Upper cervical adjustments are precise and gentle, aimed at restoring natural alignment without forceful manipulation. By correcting these misalignments, many patients experience a reduction in muscle tension in the jaw, fewer headaches, and better jaw movement.
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Beyond TMJ: Everyday Benefits for Jaw Function

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Upper cervical chiropractic care can support jaw function in a variety of scenarios:
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  • Improving uneven bite patterns
  • Reducing nocturnal clenching or grinding (bruxism)
  • Easing tension in facial and jaw muscles
  • Enhancing coordination of jaw movement
  • Alleviating secondary symptoms like headaches or ear pressure

Many of these benefits occur because spinal realignment helps re-establish optimal nerve flow, so the muscles surrounding the jaw operate in better balance. This can be a game-changer for those who have struggled with subtle but chronic jaw discomfort that hasn’t been helped through dental appliances alone.
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Whole-Body Effects of Jaw Alignment


​Jaw alignment doesn’t just affect your smile—it can influence posture, neck tension, and even breathing patterns. When the jaw is misaligned, your body often adapts by overusing certain muscles, leading to neck strain or asymmetrical movement patterns. Realigning the upper cervical spine may bring relief not only to the jaw but to tension stored throughout the upper body.

Dr. Joey Miles tailors care based on the individual needs of each patient, with a focus on lasting improvement and gentle support of the body’s natural alignment systems.

If you're experiencing jaw discomfort that hasn’t responded to traditional methods, upper cervical chiropractic may offer a new perspective. Healthy Living Spinal Care proudly serves patients from Hickory, Lenoir, Conover, Lincolnton, Statesville, and nearby areas with a whole-body approach to wellness.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment of jaw or musculoskeletal conditions.
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How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

Healthy Living Spinal Care
1055 13th St., SE , Hickory, NC 28602

828-485-2990

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