TMJ (temporomandibular joint) Disorder essentially occurs when your jaw is not working properly. While this may sound simple—pain concentrated in one particular area—the jaw actually exists at a primary crossroads of your body. This means that a misalignment of your jaw can cause pain and problems in other areas of your body too. To prove this, your temporomandibular joint is involved in eating, drinking, breathing and speaking, and the muscles of your jaw help keep your neck and head in alignment too.
So, your jaw is an important point in your body and your pain due to TMJ disorders is important to treat for that very reason.
Now, the exact cause of TMJ pain can actually be difficult to determine or attribute to just one thing. In fact, there are numerous possible causes. Your pain could even be caused by a combination of factors. All of this to say, you can experience a wide variety of symptoms very unique to you, your pain, and your specific situation.
However, with that said, here are the 10 most common symptoms of TMJ Disorder that you may be experiencing one or more of:
Jaw Pain
This may be pain in one or both of your temporomandibular joints.
Headaches
Your jaw is connected to your skull, and therefore, jaw pain can cause head pains too.
Jaw Sounds
These are sounds such as clicking, popping, or grinding of your jaw when you open, close, or chew. This may or may not be painful.
Problems with your Teeth
TMJ pain can cause sore or aching teeth along with worn, chipped, or cracked teeth.
Bite Trouble
Many people experience either trouble chewing or an uncomfortable bite, as if their upper and lower teeth are not properly fitting together.
Pain in the face
This pain can manifest itself either behind the eye, around the ear, or even pain within the ear in the form of earaches. This also could mean a general tired or aching feeling in your face.
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears is a common symptom of those dealing with TMJ pain as the jaw and ears are highly interconnected.
Balance Problems
On top of ringing in the ears, TMJ pain can cause vertigo, dizziness, and Meniere’s disease—often which all stem from problems with inner ear balance.
Pain in the Upper Back
As mentioned above, the muscles of your jaw help keep your head and neck aligned which means that jaw pain can also lead to pain in parts of your body that are lower than the jaw. These areas include upper back, shoulders, and neck.
Tingling or Numbness in Fingers
Jaw misalignment can even travel all the way down your arm and manifests itself as a tingling or numbness in the fingers.
Each person’s struggle with TMJ pain is as unique to them as the person experiencing the pain. That’s why we at TMJ+ believe in crafting a unique, holistic treatment plan for each patient. One that focuses on diagnosing the root problem and working with you to heal your specific situation from there. Call us today to schedule your free consultation and move one step closer to finding a treatment plan that is right for you and your symptoms!
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