Temporomandibular joint orTMJ Symptoms can be relatively minor or can be quite severe and painful. A lot of people think that TMJ symptoms are due to stress. While stress can aggravate TMJ symptoms, TMJ is usually a combination of problems affecting the joints of the jaw and the muscles of the jaw which control the TMJ. Below are the top 10 symptoms that indicate you may need some help.
Top 10 TMJ Symptoms
1. Difficulty opening your mouth. This is often worse first thing in the morning, either because of lack of activity or too much activity such as grinding/clenching your jaw.
2. Pain in the jaw of cheeks. The actual Temporomandibular joint is just in front of your ears.
3. Pain during eating or simply feeling that your jaw becomes tired during a meal.
4. Noticeable changes in your bite. You may notice that your teeth don’t meet the way they used to, or that you have difficulty chewing food.
5. Noise in the jaw while and opening and closing your mouth such as grinding, clicking or popping.
6. Your jaw becomes locked; either while open or closed. This is usually because the disc slips and blocks normal joint motion.
7. You can’t move your jaw from side to side, or it moves further to one side versus the other.
8. Tenderness or swelling around the joint.
9. Ear pain, in the absence of an ear infection, or ringing in the ears.
10. Headaches, including pain behind the eye or the base of the neck.
Do You Need Treatment?
If you have one or more of the above symptoms, you may need professional help. Make sure you seek out someone who has experience treating TMJ and is able to perform a thorough evaluation to make sure you are treating the source of the pain; not just the symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, call us to set up a free screening and help you find a solution.
