What is TMJ?

TMJ dysfunctions are conditions affecting your jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. These conditions can cause several issues, including jaw pain, headaches and difficulty opening and closing your mouth. You have two TMJs (temporomandibular joints) — one on each side of your face, just in front of your ears. Your TMJs connect your lower jawbone to your skull and help with movements like chewing and speaking. Between 5% and 12% of the general adult population have some form of TMJ disorder.

Types of TMD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction)

Healthcare providers classify TMDs into three categories:

1. Disorders of your jaw joints.

2. Disorders of your chewing muscles.

3. Headaches that result from TMD.

What are the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction?

TMJ symptoms vary widely and may include:

• Jaw pain.

• Facial pain.

• Shoulder or neck pain.

• Stiffness in your jaw.

• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth.

• Jaw popping or clicking.

• Headaches.

• Migraines.

• Earaches.

• Toothache.

• Tinnitus (ringing in your ears).

• A change in the way your teeth fit together (malocclusion).

What is the main cause of TMJ dysfunction?

There’s no singular cause of TMD. Rather, it can be a result of many different factors or a combination of factors.

TMJ causes may include:

• Jaw injury (like a broken or dislocated jaw).

• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism).

• Arthritis in your jaw joint.

• Malocclusion (when your teeth don’t fit together exactly as they should).

• Stress.

Things that make TMJ dysfunction worse

You can’t always control factors that cause TMJ dysfunction. But certain habits can make TMD worse, including:

• Using your teeth as tools (like tearing off clothing tags).

• Poor posture. (This can place excess pressure on your neck, shoulder and facial muscles.)

• Chewing on pens, pencils or other items (a common “nervous habit” behavior).

• Chewing on ice or excessively chewing gum.

• Taking big bites of food. (This can overwork your jaw muscles.)

• Daytime teeth clenching or grinding.

• Sleeping on your stomach.

How TO treat TMJ dysfunction?

The TMJ treatment that’s right for you depends on several factors, including the underlying cause and the severity of your pain.

TMJ treatments

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Mouth guards. Dental appliances like oral splints or mouth guards can place your jaw in a more favorable position or help reduce the effects of grinding and clenching. While you can buy these over the counter, it’s best to get a custom mouth guard from a dentist.

• Physical therapy. This includes TMJ exercises to stretch your jaw and strengthen the muscles around your jaw joints.

• Behavioral changes. This includes things like improving your posture and avoiding chewing on ice.

Can I prevent TMJ dysfunction?

You can’t always prevent TMD because some risk factors are unavoidable. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk:

• Wear a mouth guard at night if you clench or grind your teeth.

• Wear a mouth guard while playing contact sports.

• Practice good posture.

• Practice meditation, mindfulness or other stress reduction techniques.

If you believe you may have TMJ, contact Dr. Cait Smiles for a consultation.