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Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
TMJ dysfunction is a collective term used to describe a group of disorders. The most common cause of a dull pain with occasional sharp pain is due to stress and inflammation of the muscles that are used to chew. The episodes of stabbing pain are when these muscles go into painful spasm. It has been estimated that 90% of those seeking treatment are women. |
Causes
- Chronic bruxism -- nocturnal jaw clenching and/or teeth grinding
- Missing teeth and ill-fitting dentures causing the patient to put subtle uneven stress on the TMJ’s
- Orthodontia
- Frequent gum chewing
- Antidepressants commonly cause jaw clenching and grinding
- Stress and other psychological factors: Anxiety, Depression
- Less common: problems within the joint itself
Symptoms
- Surrounding muscle tenderness, worse when chewing
- Pain in the ear, temple, neck or shoulder
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Jaw locking (dislocation)
- Trismus -- inability to open the mouth fully
Treatment
- Analgesia -- a 2-week course of an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Patients should take the medication on a regular basis unless another medical condition makes this risky.
- Warm compresses to the affected area twice daily for 10 minutes to decrease pain and increase joint movement.
- Dental consultation. A mouth guard, worn every night, may completely resolve the problem
- Soft diet that minimizes hard repetitive chewing of crunchy foods (bagels, steak).
- Stop all gum chewing and relax your jaw when you find yourself clenching.
- Relaxation exercises that emphasize gentle range of motion of the affected joint
- If symptoms persist, a course of physical therapy is often recommended
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