Top 11 common signs and symptoms of TMJ

TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder means that the hinge linking with the lower and upper jaw does not work properly. The hinge is known as one of the most complicated joints in our body, having responsibility to move the lower jaw backward, forward and side-to-side. Any problem preventing this complex system of ligaments, discs, muscles and bones from working properly should be called TMJ. The exact cause of this disorder is often difficult to determine.

TMJ often causes discomfort and severe pain. It can last many years, or can just be temporary. It will affect one or even both sides of the face. It is most popular among people from the age 20 to 40, and more women have it than men.

Symptoms Of TMJ- Top 11 Common:

There are a lot of signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders. It is also difficult to know for sure whether you have TMJ or not, as one or all symptoms of this disorder can also be symptoms of other problems. Your dentist can make a proper diagnosis based on the result of complete medical and dental history, a clinical examination and appropriate X-rays.

The signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders will depend on the cause and severity of your condition. In the article today, I would like to reveal some of the signs and symptoms of TMJ in details so you should keep your head on the following interesting conditions & diseases and the common symptoms that TMJ disorders give you.

1. Headaches

symptoms of tmj - headaches

This is the first out of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that I would like to reveal in this entire article and want you and my other readers to learn and know how to manage your headaches to be able to do daily exercises normally.

Headache, often migraines is one of common symptom of TMJ. Migraines are less popular than tension headaches. A migraine is usually felt as a severe pain at the front or both sides of the head. Migraines are more severe than normal headaches and can prevent you from doing your daily activities. They often last at least a few hours, and the result is that some people need to stay in their bed for days. Some people get migraines regularly, up to a few times a week. Others only get a migraine occasionally.

Most of the people can relieve their migraines effectively with medication. Medications used to prevent migraines have the anti-seizure medication topiramate and propranolol medication. You can also use painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve your pain. But in case that they are severe, you will need stronger medication that is just available on the doctor’s prescription. You should go to see your doctor if you get severe or frequent migraine symptoms that you cannot control with over-the-counter medication, because you may benefit from effectively preventative treatment.

The recent study found that TMJ is treatable, but in case that a jaw disorder is ignored, the treatment for headache may not deal with all factors contributing to your headache.

Headache is one of the common symptoms you have to face when you get TMJ disorders.

2. Muscle Pain Around The Jaw

symptoms of tmj - muscle pain around the jaw

If you get TMJ syndrome, you will get pain or tenderness in your facial muscles and jaw joint area, neck and shoulders. Muscle spasms can happen and joints may be overstretched. The pain may occur when you chew, talk, yawn or open the mouth wide.

Pain in chewing muscles or in the jaw joint is common or you should not be too worried. In case that your pain is severe or that it lasts for days, you had better see a doctor. You should also talk with your health-care professional in case that you hurt when opening and closing the jaw or in case that you have difficulty in swallowing daily foods.

Treatment for this pain ideally should begin from the early stages. If your condition is determined early, your doctor can explain the joints ’s functioning as well as how to avoid any habit such as chewing gum or actions that contribute to the jaw pain.

This is, in fact, one of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that people should know and then find the proper ways to ease the pain when chewing, talking, and opening the mouth wide.

3. Earache

symptoms of tmj - earache

An earache is another one out of the signs and symptoms of TMJ syndrome. In order to relieve your earache, you can place a warm flannel to help you relieve your pain. Otherwise, you can use some recommended eardrops for your ear pain; however, talk with the pharmacist your symptoms and ask for advice at first.

Some people with TMJ syndrome may get tinnitus or ringing in the ears, and even hearing loss. Sometimes people mistake TMJ syndrome for an ear infection when the problem at all is not the ear.

In fact, this is also among common symptoms of TMJ so that people should pay their attention to deal with this condition.

When you get TMJ disorders and you do not know common symptoms that are associated with TMJ, this article is spent for you, so continue reading it!

4. Neck Pain

symptoms of tmj - neck pain

This is also one of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that people should learn to know how to manage it for good.

Neck pain is a common problem that occurs by several health problems, and TMJ pain is one among these problems. The pain often gets better after a couple of days or weeks, and it is rarely a symptom of a serious problem.

In order to manage your neck pain at home, you can follow some following ways:

Ÿ Take doses of ibuprofen, paracetamol to relieve your pain. You can also rub ibuprofen gel on your neck instead of taking tablets. Remember to follow the instructions that o along with the medication.

Ÿ Try holding a heat pack or hot water bottle to your neck. This action can help relieve your pain, although some people can use cold pack to get better relief.

Ÿ Try some neck exercises can also help you reduce your neck pain. Gently tense your neck by lifting your head from side to side and then up and down, or by twisting your neck carefully from left to right. These exercises will have effect in strengthening your neck muscles and improving your range of movement.

5. Fibromyalgia

symptoms of tmj - fibromyalgia

Another one on the list of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that I want to reveal in this entire writing today and want you as well as other readers to know if you are getting TMJ disorders.

The jaw pain linked with TMJ symptoms may be similar to the joint pain linked with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition found in women who get sudden hormone changes. As fibromyalgia and TMJ often happen at the same time, doctors think that there is a connection existing between the two.

In fact, this is among common symptoms of TMJ so that people, especially those who get TMJ disorders should be aware of this.

6. Dizziness And Vertigo

symptoms of tmj - dizziness and vertigo

Dizziness is a feeling that most of people may experience occasionally. When a person feels dizzy, he or she will feel unsteady, light-headed or unbalanced, and they can also feel weaker.

Vertigo is a feeling that both of you and your surrounding are moving while there is no real movement. You can have difficulty in walking and standing, and then you lose he balance and fall down. Such vertigo can last minutes to hours and may be related to headache and noise and light sensitivity.

A fear of dizziness and vertigo can prevent you from social activities as it can cause falling and even injuries.

This is also a common one on the list of signs and symptoms of TMJ that people should not look down.

7. The Locked Jaw

symptoms of tmj - the locked jaw

The jaw can lock when it is in a wide-open position. It means that the jaw is dislocated. Also, when opening, the lower jaw may be able to deviate to one side. Some people with TMJ disorders may experience one painful side or the other by awkwardly opening the jaw. These conditions could be sudden. The bite may be odd as the teeth may fit improperly together.

If your jaw is locked closed or open, you have to go to see an emergency department physician or an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist.The open locked jaw will be treated by sedating you to a pleasant level. Then your upper jaw will be kept with the thumbs while your lower jaw will be pushed forward, downward and backward. Similarly, the closed locked jaw will also be treated by sedating you until you feel completely comfortable. Then the upper jaw will be gently manipulated until you can open your mouth.

This is in brief one of the common symptoms of TMJ so that you should not look down yet pay attention to know how to deal with this condition when you get a sudden locked jaw.

8. Malocclusion

symptoms of tmj - malocclusion

This symptom is an incorrect relation between the upper and lower teeth when they meet each other due to the closing of jaws. Most people with mild malocclusion do not need any treatment. However, if your condition is severe, you will need some professional treatments.

They include:

Ÿ Dental braces to correct the teeth’s position

Ÿ Teeth reshaping, capping and bonding

ŸTeeth removal too correct the overcrowding

ŸOrthognathic surgery to reshape, shorten or lengthen the jaw

Ÿ Plates, screws or wires to secure the jaw bone and stabilize the jaw fractures.

This symptom can lead to trouble chewing or sudden uncomfortable bite. Malocclusion is actually one out of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that a lot of people in the world have to face.

9. Clicking Of The Jaw

symptoms of tmj - clicking of the jaw

Another out of the common symptoms of TMJ that I would like to reveal in this entire article and want you and my other readers to learn and remember that TMJ can cause sounds when chewing or opening the mouth.

TMJ disorders can lead to a grating sensation or sounds such as clicking or popping when you chew or open the mouth. Other people can also hear the clicking sounds. This means that the disc may not be in a normal position. However, in case that there is no limitation of movement or pain associated with your jaw, perhaps you do not need a treatment for this symptom.

If you are trying to know other common symptoms of TMJ, continue reading this article!

10. Blurred Vision

symptoms of tmj - blurred vision

When it comes to TMJ, you cannot skip blurred vision that is known as one of the common symptoms of TMJ disorders. Blurred vision is the loss of eyesight’s sharpness, making objects be out of hazy and focus. While often harmless and temporary, blurred vision is a common symptom prior to a migraine headache. The blurred vision may be able to affect both of your eyes; however, some people experience blurred vision in only one eye.

11. Taste And Smell Disorders

symptoms of tmj - taste and smell disorders

This is the last but very important out of the signs and symptoms of TMJ that I would like to reveal in this entire article and want you and my others readers not to be too worried when you suddenly lose your taste and smell.

The senses of smell and taste bring us a great pleasure. Taste helps you enjoy foods, and smell helps you enjoy the fragrances and scents. People with taste disorders cannot tell the difference in tastes. And people with smell disorders may be able to lose their sense of smell. A smell you once liked may be able to smell bad to them.

Smell is closely linked with taste. Your tongue’s taste buds will identify taste and the nerves in your nose will identify the smell. And both of sensations are connected with the brain that will integrate all of the information so that you can recognize and appreciate the flavors. Some tastes such as bitterness, saltness, sweetness, and sourness can be identified without the smell. Due to a connection of two senses, taste disorder and smell disorder also have a close connection.

In order to know for sure if you get TMJ disorders, you need to take a physical examination. The doctor will check up your head, face, neck, and temporomandibular joints. Note the following:

ŸPain and its location

Ÿ The lower jaw range of motion, if it is easy to close and open, if it is able to move forward- backward and from side to side without leading to any pain

Ÿ Sounds like clicking, grating or popping

Ÿ The assessment of your pain on a scale from 0 to 10 when your jaw is being manipulated

Ÿ Tenderness or rigidity of the chewing muscles

Ÿ Wear and tear, especially on the canine teeth

Ÿ How your teeth arrange together: is there a normal open bite, overbite and cross-bite; do you have dental restorations; is there any facial bone deformity

Basing on what the doctor determines as the cause, you may need to take blood tests as well as other tests to check up lupus, gout or rheumatoid arthritis as causes of TMJ syndrome.

Ÿ X-rays can be taken of the jaw and mouth

Ÿ Ultrasound can also be ruled to assess the TMJ’s function. It will be a useful tool to assess the TMJ inside

In case that the doctors cannot give the diagnosis of TMJ disorders or they suspect some other disorders, maybe CT or MRI scans may also be got. The MRI scan can help you assess the muscles and bony structures. Therefore, in doubtful cases, MRI is a useful choice in evaluating TMJ. In rare cases, if all of the tests fail to make a TMJ syndrome diagnosis and your pain still continues, the surgeon is able to utilize a needle to irrigate the joint. In most cases, TMJ disease is self-limiting. Most symptoms disappear in 2 weeks once the jaw is relaxed. In order to help you treat TMJ syndrome, there are a lot of options at home:

Ÿ Take pain medications and anti-inflammatory to ease the pain

Ÿ Moist heat can reduce your pain and improve function. Take caution when using heat.

Ÿ Ice packs can help you ease your pain and promote healing. Instead of placing an ice pack on the skin, keep it wrapped in a cloth. Remember to use this therapy for less than 10-15 minutes.

Ÿ Eating soft foods will allow your jaw to relax temporarily.

Ÿ Avoid chewing gum, hard candy and chewy foods. You should not open your mouth wide. Instead, do gentle relaxation exercises.

Ÿ To help you control stress and rest your jaw, take stress-reduction techniques. Taking a 5-minute break andfocusing on your breathing at the same time is an easy way to help you reduce your stress.

Ÿ On the area of pain, apply warm compresses. After 20 minutes, take home therapy including lower jaw movements, like closing and opening your jaw from side to side. The lower jaw movements should be done again 3-5 times a day, with 5 minutes each rime, for 24 weeks. A gentle massage of the pain area can also be useful when it comes to pain relief.

Another thing that I want you and my other readers to do after reading this entire article about signs and symptoms of TMJ and how to deal with them easily is to spend your little time reading another article that reveals ways to help you treat TMJ at home- the How To Treat TMJ Naturally At Home – 6 Tips article. This is actually an interesting gathering of the best treatments for TMJ that people can make use with ease at home and without concerning about harmful effects. These treatments have already supported a lot people with TMJ disorders in the world effectively in dealing with a lot of TMJ symptoms without leading to any undesired side effect so that readers of Vkool.com should read this recommended article and choose at least one of these treatments to deal with their current syndrome.

This is the list of 11 most common symptoms of TMJ that everyone who gets TMJ disorders and wants to know more about other symptoms associated with this syndrome should read and remember for good. In fact, these symptoms are associated with one another, and most of the cases, you should not worry too much or find treatments for these symptoms.

After reading the list of most common signs and symptoms of TMJ and learn how to deal with these symptoms at home, if you think that this list is very good for your current health condition, and can also help other people you know who get TMJ disorders and are facing one or more of the symptoms I mentioned in this article, you should share this list with them and encourage them to learn for good. One more thing, as an author of VKool, I always would like to know your opinions. If you get TMJ syndrome and you are getting other experiences associated with this disorder, do not forget to share them with other people by leaving your feedbacks in the comment section below, I promise that I will reply you as soon as possible.

Related articles about TMJ as well as home remedies for TMJ symptoms and toothache that you may be interested in:

10 Home Remedies For TMJ Symptoms: Pain And Swelling

Natural TMJ Relief Program Review – Does This Program Work?

TMJ No More Review – Will Sandra Carter’s Cure Work?

Truth About Tmj Review – Is David Spainhower’s Program Useful?

How To Treat Toothache Pain Naturally – 7 Tips

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