What is TMJ Disorder?
House Call Doctor has the main causes and treatments for Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder. Learn how to improve the symptoms of this frustrating condition.
Sanaz Majd, MD
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What is TMJ Disorder?
Some of us really enjoy food and dining. Food brings families together around the dinner table every night, and the kitchen is often the center of the household. So what happens when you can’t eat, even if you’re hungry? If you’ve ever experienced intense pain in your jaws while chewing, or an annoying popping or clicking when you open your mouth, you know what I’m referring to. More than likely, you suffer from Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ.
TMJ can be severe enough to keep you from participating in one of America’s favorite pastimes – enjoying food. So I’d like to discuss TMJ disorder in today’s episode, and get you back to the dinner table as soon as possible.
What is TMJ?
The temporal mandibular joint is the space in which the jaw bone (mandible) meets the skull at the temporal bone. This joint sits right in front of the ear behind the cheeks. If you place your two fingers at that spot and open and close your mouth, you can feel the TMJ.
When this joint space, like all other joints in the body, becomes stressed, it can cause some trouble.
What Are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
The TMJ can become problematic when patients start to experience any of the following symptoms:
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Pain with chewing
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Popping or clicking with chewing or yawning
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Head and neck pain
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Facial pain
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Ear pain
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Difficulty opening or closing the jaw from a locked position
Causes of TMJ Disorder
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You were born this way: Some people are just more prone to TMJ because of the way their anatomy is set up, and unfortunately there is not much you can do about that except thank your parents for your genetic makeup.
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Bruxism: Clenching or grinding the teeth at night, a phenomenon called “bruxism,” can predispose towards developing TMJ. Certainly, when we are under stress or are anxious, we may clench our teeth even more during sleep, and this can trigger TMJ flare ups.
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Arthritis: Like any other joint in the body, TMJ can also develop arthritis. With age and with recurrent microtrauma, the cartilage can break down. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect this joint.
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Trauma: An accident or blow to the joint can dislocate it, cause microtrauma in the joint space, or even destroy the cartilage.
Treatment of TMJ Disorder
There’s no magic trick to cure TMJ, unfortunately. That would make doctors’ jobs so much easier, to feel like Harry Potter in a white coat. But like with all other musculoskeletal problems in the body, you’ve got to let the inflammation die down, and there’s no other easy way. Here’s how to help it along:
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Apply a heating pad: 20 minutes three times a day should be a good start.
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Soft foods: Until the joint calms down, you may need to munch on soft foods only – think pudding, mashed potatoes, boiled veggies. If you’ve ever had a fussy, teething, inconsolable 6-month-old to whom you’ve had to introduce solids, think of that sleep deprived era. (Do I sound bitter? Probably because I’ve got two such teething fussy babies on my hands now). Keep the food smooth and soft. And stop chewing that gum!
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Massage: A gentle massage of the TMJ can help relax the muscles and joint. On that note, de-stressing your body and stress reduction (whether it’s with meditation, yoga, or simply a whole body massage) can do your TMJ some good.
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Anti-inflammatories: Anti-inflammatories can really take the edge off the TMJ. Check with your doctor before you take anything, as some patients with stomach ulcers, chronic kidney disease, or those on blood thinners cannot take anti-inflammatories.
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Guard your mouth: If you grind or clench your teeth at night, you may want to consider wearing a mouth guard. Now, your dentist may charge you mucho dinero for a custom made one, but otherwise a short trip to the local sporting goods store can buy you a generic one which may work just as well. You may need to cut down the edges of it to make it fit more properly in your mouth, but hey, it beats forking over your kids’ college savings for a piece of plastic.
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Unlocking the jaw: If you experience locked jaw, call your doctor right away, or visit the nearest emergency room, where the doctor can help unlock your jaw (possibly under sedation).
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Surgery: When all else fails, and you are miserable, surgery is the last resort. Only about 1% of those with TMJ end up with surgical correction of the jaw.
Have you ever experienced TMJ Disorder? What creative soft food choices did you make to get yourself through it? Share it with us on the House Call Doctor’s Facebook and Twitter pages!
Please note that all content here is strictly for informational purposes only. This content does not substitute any medical advice, and does not replace any medical judgment or reasoning by your own personal health provider. Please always seek a licensed physician in your area regarding all health related questions and issues.
Jaw image from Shutterstock
