The condition is twice as common in women and people assigned female at birth. TMD can have many symptoms and affect different parts of the head, neck, and jaw. TMJ symptoms often are caused by clenching or grinding your teeth, especially during sleep. This overworks the tmj and can lead to a disk moving out of place or breaking down. Stress can also make people more likely to clench or grind their teeth and tighten the muscles of their jaw.
Your health care provider can diagnose the condition with a physical exam and by asking questions. They may also order imaging tests like X-rays or a CT scan.
Symptoms
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, in front of each ear. It allows you to move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can chew, talk and yawn. Problems with this joint and the muscles that control it can cause pain, clicks or pops when you open or close your mouth, and trouble chewing or swallowing.
Most TMJ problems improve with simple home therapy. This may include eating soft foods, using ice and moist heat, avoiding extreme jaw movements like wide yawning or chewing gum, and doing exercises to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles. In some cases, a dentist might recommend a soft or hard biteplate or splint to reduce clenching and grinding and to help align the top and bottom of your teeth.
Diagnosis
The temporomandibular joints are located on either side of your head, just in front of the ears. They connect your lower jawbone to the skull and enable movements like chewing and speaking.
A person with TMJ may experience pain and tenderness in the neck, temple, jaw, ear or shoulder. They may have difficulty opening or closing their mouth, a clicking sound when they move their jaw and other symptoms.
A thorough history and examination are the first step in diagnosing TMJ disorder. A medical doctor or dentist with advanced training in TMJ disorders can help you get a correct diagnosis. TMJ disorder specialists include oral surgeons, orthodontists, otolaryngologists and prosthodontists. The most common causes of TMJ disorder are stress, clenching or grinding your teeth, biting your nails, putting pressure on the chin, eating hard foods, sleeping with an open mouth and smoking. TMJ disorders can also be caused by arthritis, a condition that affects the joints.
Treatment
TMJ is a complex jaw condition that can cause pain, inflammation and deterioration of the jawbone and teeth over time. But treatment can minimize the impact. Treatment options include medications, therapies, splinting, injections and surgery.
Symptoms vary, but may include pain in the chewing muscles or jaw joint; limited movement of the jaw; grating sounds when opening or closing the mouth; ringing in the ears; headache; neck aches; and dizziness. Women and people assigned female at birth are twice as likely to experience TMJ symptoms than men.
The first step in treatment is usually to rest the jaw and avoid activities that aggravate the jaw joint or muscles (such as gum chewing, clenching your teeth, opening your mouth wide when yawning, or leaning on your chin). Stress reduction techniques can also help. Mouth guards can be used to protect the teeth from clenching and grinding. Injections may be given to reduce inflammation and pain. There are also other specialized treatments, such as prolotherapy, which involves injecting the joint with irritants to trigger the body’s natural repair response.
Prevention
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in your body. It consists of 2 joints that slide and rotate in front of each ear, and they connect your lower jaw to the side and base of your skull. This joint, along with several muscles, allows you to move your jaw up and down, side to side, and forward and backward.
When the TMJ becomes painful or damaged, it can affect your daily activities. TMJ can be caused by teeth grinding, chewing on hard objects, a blow to the head or face, arthritis in the joint, or a dislocated jaw.
Maintaining good oral hygiene and scheduling regular dental visits can help prevent TMJ. Eating a soft diet and avoiding foods that are crunchy or chewy can also reduce pressure on the TMJ. Stress management techniques can also be helpful; if you grind or clench your teeth, it may be caused by stress. Destressing with exercise, warm baths, massage, meditation, or yoga can help.