What is TMJ Pain? What Causes It?

We often hear about TMJ disorders but it many of us still find ourselves asking “What is TMJ pain?” TMJ pain refers to different kinds of aches and pains caused by disorders in the temporomandibular joints or jaw joints.

In most cases, the pain felt is often a result of the displacement of the cartilage disc of the TMJ or jaw joint. This can cause pressure and stretching to the associated sensory nerves, which results to the pain you feel.

If you suffer from TMJ pain, you would sometimes feel popping or clicking sounds as you move your mouth or jaw. These popping or clicking sounds are produced by the cartilage disk snapping into place as you move your jaw.

TMJ pain can also be a result of other factors that include minor and major trauma to the jaw, teeth grinding, stress and other psychological factors, arthritis, and poor alignment of the jaws.

What is TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorders might sound new to you but these disorders have been around for thousands of years. However, it has only been recently that more and more people have become more aware about it.

If you are asking; “what is TMJ disorder?” it would also help to ask what its causes are. TMJ disorders refer to a group of complex problems involving the jaw joints. Sometimes, they are also referred to as myofacial pain dysfunction and at other times, Costen’s syndrome.

There are certain conditions and behaviors that lead to the development of TMJ disorders. Teeth grinding and bruxism (teeth clenching) are said to be among the most common causes of TMJ disorders. Other factors include habitual chewing of gum, habitual nail biting, dental problems, misalignment of the teeth or malocclusion, trauma to the jaws, stress, and some occupational tasks that contribute to the wear and tear of the jaw joints.

What is TMJ Syndrome?

Never heard about TMJ syndrome? You need not think about diseases that affect one in a million people when you hear about TMJ syndrome because it is something that many people are suffering from, and you might have even suffered from it once in your life.

So what is TMJ syndrome?

TMJ syndrome refers to different kinds of medical problems involving or related to the jaw joint or jaw joints. The disorders are often caused by trauma which can either be microtrauma or macrotrauma. Microtrauma is internal in nature and can involve bruxism or teeth grinding and clenching or jaw tightening. Macrotrauma on the other hand is often a result of great impact made to the joints such as a punch to the jaw or impact caused by an accident which can damage the disc or break the jawbone.

Other causes of TMJ syndrome include diseases of the bones and joints like osteoarthritis rheumatoid arthritis.