Do you suffer from jaw pain, headaches, or clicking and popping sounds when you move your jaw? If so, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

TMJ dysfunction is a condition that affects the joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. The symptoms of TMJ dysfunction can range from mild to severe, and can have a significant impact on your quality of life.

Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options available for TMJ dysfunction. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 things you need to know about this condition.

What is TMJ Dysfunction?

The symptoms of TMJ dysfunction can vary depending on the individual. However, common symptoms include pain in the jaw, face, neck and shoulders; clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw; difficulty chewing or swallowing and headaches.

What causes TMJ Dysfunction?

There is no one single cause of TMJ dysfunction. However, common causes include lack of teeth (lack of orthopedic joint stability), teeth grinding (bruxism), sleep disturbances, stress (muscle tension), trauma, joint infection (arthritis), hormonal local joint sensitivity, higher sensitivity of pain receptors.

How is TMJ Dysfunction diagnosed?

TMJ dysfunction is typically diagnosed based on the medical history and physical examination. Imaging exams just complement specific information collected from the previous steps (eg. xrays and/or CT scan for trauma or MRI for disc impairments), but they are not compulsory to get a primary diagnosis of TMD dysfunction.

How is TMJ Dysfunction treated?

There are a number of conservative treatments that can be effective in treating TMJ Dysfunction. The first step is to learn how the joint works and the basics of TMD dysfunction. That will help to find self protective behaviours. These include:

• modifying your diet during acute painful periods – meaning chopping to smaller chunk, choosing eating semi solid foods and avoiding unnecessary loads and joint movements such as chewing gum or biting your nails ;
• avoiding triggers, such as cold environments that can lead to higher muscle contraction. 
•  practicing stress-relieving techniques – this may involve self massage, relaxation exercises and/or meditation;
• using heat to relax muscle (in case of muscle contraction) or ice in case of joint inflammation.

Under medical guidance,

• taking over-the-counter pain medication – this may include ibuprofen or acetaminophen;
• using a mouth guard – this can help to protect the teeth and relieve pressure on the jaw. It is our opinion that Michigan splint (hard acrylic with flat occlusal surface) is better than soft silicone mouth guards
• undergoing physical therapy – this can help to reduce pain, stretch and strengthen the jaw muscle and disc repositioning. It assumes particular importance when there is neck and back pain.  

Surgical treatments for TMJ Dysfunction

Most TMD dysfunctions tend to ameliorate with conservative measures, but selected cases have indication for more interventive procedures.

The most common type of surgery are minimally invasive procedures: arthrocentesis / artroscopy that flush out inflammatory fluids from the joint and release adhesions.  After washing the joint chamber provide a way to inject drugs inside the joint, such as hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation).

Very very few cases nowadays need open surgery. That is usually reserved for tumoral cases, trauma or need for joint prosthesis replacement.

TMJ Dysfunction and your overall health

It is important to manage stress if you suffer from TMJ Dysfunction. Stress can worsen the symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction and make it more difficult to treat. There are a number of ways to manage stress, such as relaxation techniques, exercise, and counseling.

The link between TMJ Dysfunction and sleep disorders

Sleep disorders can be one of the most important causes of TMD dysfunction to rule out and treat adequately. If missed out, all interventions to treat TMD may get frustrated.

Unrestful sleep, sleepy days, frequent nocturnal awakenings, frequent need of nocturnal urination, restless legs, nocturnal or/and diurnal teeth grinding, snoring, higher blood pressure, obesity, anxiety, temperamental days, insomnias are symptoms and sign that should ring the alarm for a sleep disorder.

TMJ Dysfunction and diet

What you eat can impact your TMJ Dysfunction symptoms. Avoiding trigger foods, during acute painful phases or joint locks. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables is also important for overall health and may help reduce symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

4 more things you need to know about TMJ Dysfunction

1 – TMJ Dysfunction is a common condition that can be treated effectively with the help of a qualified healthcare professional.

2 – Early diagnosis and treatment are important.

3 – There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating TMJ Dysfunction.

Each person’s experience with TMJ Dysfunction is unique, and therefore there is no single approach to treatment that will work for everyone.

A variety of treatment options are available.

There are a variety of effective treatments available for TMJ Dysfunction, including both conservative and surgical options.

4 – TMJ Dysfunction can have a significant impact on your overall health.

TMJ Dysfunction can cause pain and discomfort, as well as interfere with your ability to eat, speak, kiss and function properly in day-to-day life. It is therefore important to seek treatment if you think you may be suffering from this condition.

Conclusion

If you’re suffering from TMJ Dysfunction, don’t despair – there are treatment options available. Early diagnosis and treatment are important, as is finding the right approach for you. Remember that TMJ Dysfunction can have a significant impact on your overall health, so it’s worth taking steps to manage it.