TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. This joint is located connecting the upper jaw (also known as the temporal bone or maxilla) and the lower jaw (also known as the mandible). It basically then is what connects the whole jaw to the skull. There can be problems related to this jaw joint referred to as the temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ disorders. Because of regular use for chewing and talking, the TMJ can experience wear and tear just like any other mechanism and part of the body. Often if the jaw suffers a hard blow, TMJ pain can ensue.
TMJ pain symptoms are either indirect or direct. The first direct symptom is the hearing of clicking sounds when the mouth is opened or closed and it is the most common symptom. The clicking sound may be a popping or a snapping that could be loud enough; it can be heard by other people around. There may be pain that accompanies this clicking but with or without the pain, it signals that the TMJ has a displaced disc or that it is irritated or inflamed. The next sign of TMJ is the locking jaw symptom when the jaw gets locked during opening or closing. A change in the bite of a person is another direct symptom for TMJ. Once again, as the TMJ becomes displaced, the teeth do not line up properly and the bite or the dental occlusion is not aligned.
It’s usually sensible to approach the problem by attacking the cause rather than the symptoms as TMJ No More does in it’s step by step program
TMJ symptoms which are considered inderstc include lack of sleep, sore facial muscles in the morning, neck and shoulder pain, sore teeth, hearing issues, dizziness, headaches, and sinus problems. A TMJ headache will usually be felt round the temples, the back of the head and the shoulders. The displaced disc in the TMJ causes pain that usually centralizes itself in these areas. Dizziness is a symptom of TMJ because if the TMJ is inflamed it affects the inner ear which is the area that gives people a sense of balance. Pain behind the eye created by TMJ can lead to sensitivity to light. Eye twitching and blurred vision can also be taken as TMJ symptoms in addition to this.
Because the TM joint is located near the ears, anything problem with the TMJ affects the ears. An extreme case can sometimes result in loss of hearing but more commonly it will be ringing in the ears. Stuffiness and congestion in the nose is also a significant TMJ symptom. If someone is clenching or grinding their teeth during the night neck pain and tender facial muscles can result. All are a result of teeth grinding and clenching during the night. The person experiencing TMJ may be depressed because of sleep deprivation and continual pain.
Surgery isn’t always the best option for TMJ sufferers and books like TMJ No More are often better solutions to the underlying problem.
