Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a set of more than 30 conditions that cause jaw joint and muscle discomfort. “TMDs” are disorders caused by the temporomandibular joint (“TMJ”). Everyone has two TMJs, one on each side of the head just in front of the ears. Muscles and ligaments surrounding and attached to the TMJ control its movement. Problems with any of these structures can lead to TMDs.
The jaw bone is connected to your skull by the temporomandibular joints located on each side of your head just in front of your ears. Jaw muscles are attached to these bones allowing you to open and close your mouth as well as talk and eat. The ligaments that hold these joints together gradually wear out causing inflammation and pain which can eventually lead to arthritis if left untreated.
Symptoms may include pain or tenderness in or around one or both jaws with varying degrees of severity. Other symptoms may include earaches, tightness in your face, headaches, neck pain, clicking sensation when opening mouth wide, and muscular cramps.
The primary cause of TMD is a muscle fault, so-called “trigger points”. The jaw cannot move without muscles. The jaw muscles have two origins and attach to the jawbone on each side, which moves the jaw front-back and sideways. There are many different things that can cause TMD, including teeth grinding, poor posture, stress, injury, infection, arthritis, or other conditions.
Jaw problems are caused by overuse of jaw muscles, misalignment of teeth, teeth grinding or clenching, as well as poor posture, and stress. While grinding and clenching your teeth can be primary factors, there can also be many secondary factors related to jaw pain, including jaw malocclusion (when your upper and lower teeth don’t meet properly), poor dental hygiene, stressful lifestyle, poor posture, jaw injury or trauma, aging bones and muscles, and bruxism (grinding of the teeth). Jaw pain that lasts only momentarily after eating or opening the mouth wide for instance may indicate a temporary problem, such as TMD that has gone into spasm or locked jaw position termed “trismus”.
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