TMJ Pain
Your temporomandibular joint is the hinge connecting your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn.
Problems with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
What Causes TMD?
There are many factros thought to comtribute to TMD, and often it requires a details history to try and determine the most likely cause. Essentally, we believe symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of your jaw and or with the parts of the joint itself not working together as optimally as they should.
Injury to your jaw, the joint, or muscles of your head and neck ( e.g. from a heavy blow or whiplash) can lead to TMD. Other causes include:
Grinding or clenching your teeth
Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint
Arthritis in the joint
Stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth
What Are the Symptoms?
TMD often causes severe pain and discomfort. It can be temporary or last many years. It might affect one or both sides of your face. More women than men have it, and it’s most common among people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Common symptoms include:
Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouthwide
Problems when you try to open your mouth wide
Jaws that get "stuck" or "lock" in the open- or closed-mouth position
Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
A tired feeling in your face
Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite, feels like the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
Swelling on the side of your face
Headaches
Earchaes and dizziness
You may also have toothaches, headaches, neck aches, dizziness,earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).