The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw bone to you skull and is responsible for jaw movement. TMJ is most commonly recognized as a painful disorder in your jaw that is either caused by damage to the jaw’s muscles or the temporomandibular joint itself. The specific cause of damage or injury is hard to determine, and it can sometimes be the result of a combination of reasons. Fortunately, most cases of TMJ respond positively to self-care, such as managing pain and tenderness with ice or heat, pain medication, bite guards, and sometimes physical therapy to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles.
Although the cause may be unclear, there are several known risk factors for TMJ:
- Women aged 20 to 40 years old have an increased risk for TMJ.
- Bad posture in the neck and upper back can lead to TMJ.
- Chronic inflammatory arthritis increases your risk, because arthritis is known to cause pain and stiffness in your joints.
- A misaligned bite or poorly positioned teeth can increase your risk of TMJ.
- Trauma to the jaw increases your risk due to injury of the joint or surrounding muscles.
- Stress and anxiety can lead to teeth or jaw clenching, which can then cause symptoms of TMJ.
- If you grind your teeth, you are at a greater risk for developing TMJ.
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