Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders - Medtick
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Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

What is it?

The temporomandibular joint combines a hinge action with sliding motions and is connecting your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull.

  • The joint can be found on both sides of your head in front of your ears.
  • It allows your jaw to open and close, enabling you to speak and eat.
  • The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk, which normally keeps the movement smooth.

Painful temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can occur if:

  • The disk erodes or moves out of its proper alignment
  • The joint’s cartilage is damaged by arthritis
  • The joint is damaged by a blow or other impact
  • At times it is difficult to determine on why it occurs

It’s not usually serious and generally gets better on its own as well as symptoms may show up on just one side of the face, or both.

  • It tend to occur in females more than males

Referral is required:

  • If pain keeps on reoccurring
  • One cannot open their mouth or close properly
  • Affecting ones performance/activity levels during waking hours and/or one cannot sleep

Cause

Symptoms

  • Pain or tenderness of your jaw?
  • Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints?
  • Stiffness in the muscles of the jaw?
  • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing (limited movement of the jaw)?
  • Clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew?
  • Difficulty opening and/or closing your mouth fully (shift in the jaw, changing the way that the upper and lower teeth align)?
  • Jaw locking when you open your mouth?
  • Throbbing headache that’s usually around your ear and the temples?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Balance and dizziness?
  • Aching facial pain and pain at back of eye?
  • Neck stiffness and shoulder pain?
  • The pain may be worse when chewing and when you feel stressed?
  • Difficulty sleeping and/or lack of sleep and/or feeling of not having a good night sleep?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

  • Headaches
  • Eye pain
  • Ear pain (Sharp ear pain that worsens with jaw movement or pain around the ear may occur, along with ear stuffiness leading  to  balance  and  dizziness)
  • Lower jaw pain
  • Neck stiffness (back of neck)
  • Shoulder stiffness
  • Arm and back pain

General tips

Do

  • Eat soft food, like pasta, omelettes and soup
  • Take paracetamol or ibuprofen (if suitable)
  • Hold ice packs or heat packs to the jaw, whichever feels better
  • Massage the painful jaw muscles
  • Try to find ways to relax to reduce stress.
  • Reduce jaw movements
  • Have a good balanced diet and exercise
  • Changing posture to help with neck muscles.
  • Wearing a mouth guard at night

Don’t

  • Do not chew gum or pen tops
  • Do not bite food with your front teeth
  • Do not yawn too wide
  • Do not bite your nails
  • Do not clench your teeth – apart from when eating, your teeth should be apart
  • Do not rest your chin on your hand

www.nhs.uk

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

verywellhealth

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Dentist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations

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