TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is a jaw problem that affects many people. Your temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of your skull. There are many muscles in this area that make this joint one of the strongest and most used in the human body. We use this joint to chew, talk, smile, and make many facial expressions.
In some cases, this joint can become inflamed, painful, or stop working properly. This is called TMJ disorder, or TMJ for short. There are a variety of factors that can cause this. The disc that cushions the joint can become inflamed or worn out. The jaw may be misaligned, causing it to click or even lock up. Muscles may spasm or become strained.
Regardless of the causes, the result is a great deal of pain when performing normal activities such as eating and talking. In extreme cases, people may be unable to use the joint at all. People also may suffer headaches, dental damage, and other painful effects from this disorder.
Understanding the cause of your temporomandibular joint disorder is important to getting the right treatment for it and preventing it from occurring once again.
1. Physical Injury
Physical injury can cause acute TMJ, which is sharp and severe pain and disability that lasts a short time. This usually resolves in a few weeks or months. In addition, injury can cause chronic TMJ if the jaw does not heal properly.
There are many kinds of physical injury that can cause this disorder. For example, a broken or dislocated jaw can cause inflammation and pain at this joint. Damage or strain to the muscles in the area can cause dysfunction as well. In addition, indirect injuries such as whiplash can cause injury to the temporomandibular joint.
Many people do not realize that they have injured their jaw badly enough to need medical care. They try to treat the pain at home. In these cases, the area may heal incorrectly and cause long term pain and dysfunction.
It is important to see a doctor immediately for any suspected injury to this joint and the surrounding area. Simple measures such as a sling, rest, or physical therapy may be able to prevent a lifetime of pain and difficulty.
If a physical injury is causing pain to this area beyond several months, there may be a chronic problem. The area may not have healed properly. In many cases, this can be treated to prevent a lifetime of pain.
2. Arthritis
Arthritis is joint pain caused by breakdown of the joint itself, often from aging and overuse. Although many people get arthritis in their knees, fingers, and spine, it is also possible to develop arthritis of the temporomandibular joint.
Arthritis pain often begins mildly and is only felt after repeated use of the joint. People also may notice stiffness and inflammation. Over time, the symptoms progress so the pain is present much of the time. There are effective treatments for arthritis, especially when it is caught early. It is important to see a doctor if you believe you may have arthritis causing TMJ.
3. Teeth Grinding
Many people grind their teeth in their sleep, which is also called bruxism. It is difficult to prevent this because people are not doing it purposely or consciously. However, teeth grinding can cause a great deal of damage to teeth and to the temporomandibular joint.
Teeth grinding wears down teeth over time. It also can lead to misalignment of teeth, which places more stress on the jaw. People who do this when sleeping are working their muscles and joints all night, which can cause overuse injuries and strain.
Dentists often are the first professionals to identify teeth grinding, as the effects on the teeth are noticeable. They can prescribe mouthpieces and other ways of preventing this issue.
4. Teeth Clenching
Do you clench your teeth when you are stressed? What about when you are sleeping? Many people do this without realizing it. Unfortunately, it can cause damage to both your teeth and your jaw, leading eventually to TMJ.
Teeth clenching requires strenuous use of jaw muscles. In addition, it places stress on the teeth and the jaw. Over time, it can create excessive wear and tear on the disc that protects the temporomandibular joint.
This damage is minor but it can accumulate over time to create huge problems. However, teeth clenching can be prevented with behavioral therapy and special guards worn while sleeping.
5. Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system malfunctions and begins to attack its own tissues. Many of these diseases affect joints and connective tissue. As a result, they also can affect the temporomandibular joint.
These diseases can cause not just pain, but also redness and inflammation. In many cases, the effects are so severe that the joint cannot be moved, even in normal daily ways. Autoimmune diseases also can cause lasting damage if they are not caught early and treated.
There are several therapies, including both lifestyle changes and medications, that can reduce autoimmune activity and thus treat the resulting chronic disorders such as TMJ.
6. Dental Surgery
Dental surgery is a very common cause of acute TMJ. Surgery can cause swelling and pain in tissues not just in the surgical site, but in surrounding areas. This usually resolves within days or weeks of the surgery.
However, there are instances when dental surgery can cause TMJ over a longer period of time. Removing or otherwise modifying teeth can cause them to move slightly or settle differently. This can change the way teeth line up when chewing and talking, leading to misalignment at the temporomandibular joint. This in turn can cause pain, inflammation, locking, and a variety of symptoms associated with TMJ. In many cases, a dentist or oral surgeon can help to resolve the underlying misalignment, treating the disorder once and for all.
7. Infections
Although infections of the temporomandibular joint are rare, they can cause TMJ when they occur. In addition, these infections can actually be dangerous, making it important to get them treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Most people notice first that there is pain in the joint and that they cannot move it as well. They then may develop a headache, fever, chills, and other symptoms of an infection. The joint may also feel hot or inflamed.
These infections can quickly spread to the jaw bone or other parts of the skull. They also may cause sepsis, a serious infection of the blood. An infection of the temporomandibular joint is a medical emergency that should be treated immediately.
