Serious medical conditions can result from untreated TMJ, so called for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects your jawbone to each side of your skull just beneath your ears. The proper medical term is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), but it is more familiarly known as TMJ disorder.
If not treated, TMJ disorder can cause serious, lifelong consequences, including long-term pain, problems chewing, or damage from teeth clenching and grinding, known as bruxism. Joint pain caused by TMJ disorder can also lead to permanent hearing damage or tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring in your ears not caused by an outside source).
When treated early, TMJ disorder typically does not cause ongoing oral health issues.
What Causes TMJ?
Discomfort or pain from TMJ disorder can be either chronic or intermittent. You can suffer from the following health conditions if you have TMJ disorder and do not seek, or you delay, treatment:
- Jaw, hearing, and tinnitus problems can cause dizziness, vertigo, and difficulties with balance.
- Lockjaw is another serious problem that can result from TMJ. If your jaw is stuck in the open or closed position, seek medical attention right away.
- Numerous dental health issues can result from putting off treatment. Clenching and grinding of teeth (bruxism), usually during sleep, can cause wear on the protective enamel of your teeth or fractured teeth.
- Unsymmetrical muscle growth and swelling on one side of the face can result because TMJ sufferers often favor one side of their jaws over the other while chewing. Eventually, some people develop a lopsided appearance in their face.
- Insomnia and other sleep issues can result from the clenching and grinding of teeth in combination with ongoing pain from TMJ disorder.
How Do I Know if I Have TMJ Disorder?
You can use a quick and easy method to self-diagnose whether you have a TMJ disorder. Place your fingertips on your face, just in front of your ears. Then open and close your mouth. If you feel pain or your jaw does not move smoothly, it is possible you have TMJ disorder. Pain might occur in your jawbone, in the hinge-like joint of your jaw, or in the surrounding muscles that control movement of your jaw.
How Can I Manage Pain from TMJ?
While the exact cause of TMJ disorder can be difficult to identify, most often the problem is tight jaw muscles, an injury to the jaw joint, or the clenching or grinding of your teeth, usually during sleep. If you are experiencing significant stress or if you have some types of arthritis, you can also develop TMJ disorder.
Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can give you temporary relief. Applying cold packs or moist heat can also help alleviate mouth and jaw pain and reduce inflammation and swelling:
- Cold packs help with occasional sharp pain. If you do not have a cold compress or ice pack, wrap ice cubes in a clean cloth and apply it to your jaw. Use for no more than 15 minutes.
- Moist heat helps with dull, steady pain. Use hot water and a washcloth to promote blood flow and muscle relaxation and to help with muscle stiffness.
See Your Dentist for Treatment Options
Unfortunately, people dealing with TMJ disorder do not always seek treatment. Because everyday activities can easily aggravate untreated TMJ, the resulting pain can be difficult to avoid. Make an appointment with your dentist to discuss possible causes and treatment options. In most cases, discomfort or pain related to TMJ disorder is temporary or lasts only for a limited time.