You may not think about your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) much, but you use them a lot.
Don’t take it lightly! As TMJ disorder is easily aggravated by many normal daily tasks, it can be difficult to avoid.
The joints are connecting your jawbone to the skull whereby you use in the action of talking, chewing and swallowing.
When this joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome or temporomandibular disease (TMD). TMJ causes discomfort and pain that can either be intermittent or chronic.
Causes of TMJ Disorders:
- Teeth or Jaw injury
- Teeth grinding or clenching (Bruxism)
- Misalignment of the teeth
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Arthritis
- Gum chewing
Failure to get TMJ treated may have serious lifelong consequences.
Sign and symptoms of TMJ Disorders may progress from mild to severe and include:
- Jaw pain and soreness
- Jaw clicking and popping
- Earache
- Headache
- Jaw locking (difficulty to open or close mouth)
- Difficulty in chewing
- Tired face
Risk Factors:
Factors that may increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders include:
- Various types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Jaw injury
- Facial deformities
- Teeth asymmetry
- Long term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth
- Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems that may affect the TMJ
- Stress
If experiencing any of the sign and symptoms above, do not hesitate to call or visit the nearest branches to let our therapists to assess your condition.
Article by Gan Yee Jie
Physiotherapist from Your Physio