The temporomandibular joint, shortened to TMJ, is the joint where the upper jaw and the lower jaw meet. It is located in front of each of your ears. The joints enable your jaw to move smoothly open and closed and from side to side. This allows you to chew, talk, and yawn. It is one of the most commonly used joints in your body, which also means that when there is something wrong with it, you’re sure to notice.
What causes TMJ problems?
It is unclear exactly what causes TMJ, but dentists believe that issues arise from problems with the jaw muscles or with the joint itself. Injuries like whiplash or a heavy blow can cause TMJ, but some of the other causes are a bit more subtle. These include teeth grinding or clinching, arthritis in the joint, dislocating the disc between the ball and socket, and stress.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
There are many ways that TMJ presents itself, and not all patients have every symptom. Most commonly affecting people ages 20 to 40, TMJ pain can range from mild to severe, and symptoms may be temporary or last for years. The most common symptoms of TMJ include:
- Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck, shoulders, or ear
- Difficulty opening your mouth very wide
- Getting your jaws stuck in the open or closed position
- Popping, clicking, or grating sounds in your jaw joint when moving your mouth
- Feelings of fullness in your ear, or ringing in your ear
- Difficulty chewing
- Facial swelling
How is TMJ treated?
Treatments range from self-care techniques to appliances and even to surgery in severe cases. Most experts agree that conservative therapies should be tried first, with surgery as the last resort. Dentists also suggest that using several of the techniques in combination with one another may be helpful. Some treatments to try for TMJ problems are:
- Apply heat or ice packs.
- Eat soft foods.
- Take over-the-counter pain medications, or higher prescription doses prescribed by your dentist. Muscle relaxants and anti-anxiety medicines are also sometimes prescribed.
- Wear a splint or night guard, which are plastic mouthpieces that fit over your teeth to prevent you from clenching or grinding them.
- Avoid extreme jaw movements and chewing harsh items like gum or ice.
- Learn relaxation techniques to avoid muscle tension in your jaw.