Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

People experience TMJ disorders differently and vary from person to person, based on where the problem stems from. If the jaw itself is involved, the TMJD symptoms listed below may be more noticeable:

  • Limited movement or locking of the jaw

  • Upper and lower teeth that don’t fit together

  • Presence of clicking, grating, or popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth

  • Bruxism, or grinding of the teeth

  • Pain in the muscles that control jaw movement (within the jaw itself, near the temples, and around the ears)

Other symptoms of TMJD may also go beyond these and may affect other parts of your body:

  • Neck pain

  • Headaches or migraines

  • Earaches

  • Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears

  • Sinus problems

  • Tooth pain

  • Twitching of face or eye muscles

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Chronic pain or tenderness of the muscles around the ear, neck, face, upper back and shoulders

  • Sensitivity to light and noise

At first, these symptoms might seem unconnected to your jaw. However, when you understand the anatomy of the jaw, its functions, and movements, it makes sense how these symptoms can be part of your disorder.

These symptoms may intensify after chewing food, during stressful events, or when you obtain an injury to the head, neck, or jaw.

It’s important to first rule out other conditions that may mimic TMJD symptoms by consulting your GP. For example facial pain can be a symptom or a result of conditions, such as:

  • Sinus or ear infections

  • Decayed or abscessed teeth

  • Various types of headache

  • Facial neuralgia (nerve-related facial pain)

  • Tumours

  • Connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

  • Eagles syndrome

  • Dystonia

  • Lyme Disease

  • Scleroderma