TMJ Disorders – Symptoms and Causes
Understanding TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) functions as a sliding hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw.
TMJ disorders fall under temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and can cause pain in both the joint itself and the muscles that help you move your jaw.
Pinpointing the exact cause of TMJ disorders can be challenging. Several factors may contribute to the pain, including:
- Habitual behaviors: Teeth clenching, grinding (bruxism), gum chewing, and nail biting
- Stress levels
- Related conditions: Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, or jaw injuries
TMJ pain typically doesn’t last forever. Most people experience temporary discomfort that improves with proper care.
Common Treatment Options:
- Self-care at home
- Physical therapy focused on jaw exercises
- Custom mouth guards to prevent teeth grinding
- Surgery (reserved for severe cases when other treatments fail)
Many patients find relief through non-surgical approaches. These treatments aim to reduce pain, improve jaw movement, and prevent further damage to the joint.
Signs and Symptoms
TMJ disorders can cause several uncomfortable symptoms.
You might feel pain or tenderness in your jaw or in one or both jaw joints. Some people experience aching pain near their ears or throughout their face. Chewing may become difficult or painful.
Your jaw joint might lock up, making it hard to open or close your mouth properly. Other symptoms can include headaches, neck pain, eye discomfort, and tooth pain that occurs along with jaw tenderness.
Many people with TMJ disorders notice a clicking sound or grinding feeling when they open their mouths or chew. However, if this clicking doesn’t cause pain or limit your jaw movement, you probably won’t need treatment.
When to Get Medical Help
Contact a healthcare provider if you have ongoing jaw pain that starts suddenly or happens when you move your jaw.
You should also seek help if you can’t fully open or close your mouth. A dentist or healthcare professional can identify the cause of your symptoms and suggest the right treatment.
Causes
TMJ disorders happen when the temporomandibular joint doesn’t work properly. This joint connects your jawbone to your skull and works like a hinge that can also slide.
Several factors can lead to TMJ pain problems:
- Disk problems: The protective disk between the bones may move out of place or wear down.
- Soft tissue damage: Strains or sprains in the surrounding ligaments.
- Arthritis: Cartilage damage within the joint.
- Physical trauma: Injuries from impacts or blows to the jaw area.
- Muscle issues: Spasms in the jaw muscles.
Identifying the exact cause can be challenging. Many people with TMJ disorders have multiple contributing factors rather than a single, clear cause. The joint’s complex structure—combining sliding and hinge movements—makes diagnosis more difficult.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase your chance of developing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders:
Arthritis conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
Physical factors
- Jaw injuries
- Certain connective tissue diseases
Habits that Strain the Jaw
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Excessive gum chewing
- Nail biting
Mental Health and Related Conditions
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
TMJ disorders are also more common in people with certain health conditions. These include:
- Fibromyalgia
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Sleep disorders
Lifestyle factors that may play a role include smoking, which can affect joint health and healing.
When these risk factors are present, they can place extra strain on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This strain may lead to pain and dysfunction over time.
The connection between mental health and TMJ disorders is important. Stress often causes people to tighten their jaw muscles or clench their teeth without realizing it. This tension can harm the joint over time.
For some people, multiple risk factors work together. For example, someone with arthritis who also grinds their teeth may have a higher risk than someone with just one of these factors.
Being aware of these risk factors can help you take steps to protect your jaw health. Discuss with your healthcare provider how to lower your risk of TMJ problems if you have multiple risk factors.
