The Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of TMJ

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), also known as TMJ Disorder happens when the small triangular joints that open and close your jaw get out of sync. There are a variety of reasons why this could happen, including:

Grinding or Clenching Your Teeth – Ongoing grinding or clenching of your teeth puts a lot of pressure and strain on your joints, which is why this behavior is one of the most common causes of TMJ Disorder.

Misaligned Bite – When your upper and lower teeth do not line up properly, any jaw movement can cause wear and tear on the cartilage disks that cushion the TMJ or could cause the joint itself to become dislocated.

Worn or Torn Cartilage – Sometimes the cartilage disks that cushion the joint can become worn down which results in grinding of the jawbone.

Dislocated Temporomandibular Joint – When the joint becomes dislocated, it can impede the movement of the jaw resulting in strain and/or pain in that area.

Arthritis – With arthritis, inflammation and swelling can occur in the muscles, ligaments and tissues around the TMJ causing discomfort and pain.

Trauma to the Temporomandibular Joint – A blow to the jaw can occur in an auto accident, airbags deploying, a slip or fall where the face hits against something, or other various reasons, and when trauma occurs to that area of the face, the joint can become misaligned creating pain.

The symptoms of the disorder will vary for each individual afflicted with TMJ depending on the reason behind the dysfunction. But any imbalance to the temporomandibular joint strains the related muscles and irritates the affected nerves causing a variety of unpleasant and painful symptoms including one or several of the following:

• Radiating pain in the face, neck and shoulders
• Headaches…from moderate to migraine
• Stiffness of the jaw muscle
• Pain in the jaw joint
• Painful clicking, grating or even popping in the jaw area when the mouth is opened or closed
• Ringing in the ears or ear aches
• Limited movement or locking of the jaw
• Tingling in the extremities
• A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
• Pain in the teeth or cheek areas

When TMJ Disorder is the cause of your pain and discomfort, there are a variety of approaches that can be taken to correct the problem. The first step is a thorough dental examination of your mouth and bite. Your dentist may then suggest one or several of the following approaches:

• Applying ice and/or heat packs
• Doing gentle jaw relaxing and stretching exercises to strengthen your jaw muscles and help increase jaw movement
• Learning techniques for relaxing and reducing stress
• Using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines
• Using a stabilization sprint or bit guard
• Correcting your bite or teeth alignment with dental restorations or orthodontics

For many people, TMJ is a painful and serious condition, but the pain caused by TMJ can be minimized or alleviated with your dentist’s guidance and instructions.