5 Telltale Signs You May Need TMJ Treatment

TMJ is a disorder characterized by dysfunction of your temporomandibular joints, located on each side of your jaw. These joints control your jaw movements, enabling you to talk, swallow, chew, and yawn. Factors like malocclusion, jaw injury, stress, arthritis, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding can affect the function of your temporomandibular joints, leading to problems with TMJ. Knowing the symptoms of this condition can help you determine if you need TMJ treatment.

Your Grand Rapids, Michigan, dentist, Dr. Katie Burggraaf from KB Family Dentistry, explores some telltale signs of TMJ disorder here:

1. Jaw Pain/Tenderness 

Jaw tenderness and pain are common signs of TMJ. You’ll feel the discomfort in the joint itself when you open and close your mouth. Over time, the pain may spread to other areas of your face or neck. As your condition worsens, it may become difficult to talk, yawn, or chew. Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Burggraaf can recommend the best TMJ treatment to ease your discomfort and restore your jaw health. 

2. Clicking or Popping Sound When Opening Your Mouth 

Another common symptom of TMJ is consistent clicking or popping noises when you open and close your mouth. These sounds could be caused by misalignment of your jaw joint or displacement of the disc within your joint. At KB Family Dentistry, we can determine if these noises are early warning signs of TMJ or caused by some other dental condition. If these noises are accompanied by pain or restricted jaw movement, you may need TMJ treatment.

3. Frequent Headaches 

If you’re experiencing frequent headaches due to undue pressure or strain on your jaw muscles and nerves, it could be due to TMJ. Jaw trauma, arthritis, persistent jaw clenching, and teeth grinding are some common causes of TMJ headaches.

4. Limited Jaw Movement 

Another sign of TMJ is restricted jaw movement due to jaw stiffness and pain, which makes it difficult to open and close your mouth. TMJ can impact your ability to speak, eat, swallow, laugh, and perform other everyday functions with your mouth. Some people experience lockjaw due to TMJ. This is when your jaw temporarily locks open or shut. Through TMJ treatment, you can keep this condition from worsening and affecting your quality of life.  

5. Teeth Grinding 

Unconscious jaw clenching and teeth grinding, particularly at night, could be due to TMJ. These two activities can put undue pressure on your jaw muscles and joints, causing discomfort, soreness, and pain the next day. Dr. Burggraaf may recommend wearing a night guard to prevent nighttime bruxism and relieve these symptoms.

Share this Article