Pain and TMJ – What are Common Symptoms?

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint.  This joint is located connecting the upper jaw (also known as the temporal bone or maxilla) and the lower jaw (also known as the mandible).  It basically then is what connects the whole jaw to the skull.

There can be problems related to this jaw joint referred to as the temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ disorders.  Because of regular use for chewing and talking, the TMJ can experience wear and tear just like any other mechanism and part of the body.  Sometimes a strong blow to the jaw can result in TMJ too.

The symptoms for TMJ syndrome can either be direct or indirect.  The first direct symptom is the hearing of clicking sounds when the mouth is opened or closed and it is the most common symptom.  The clicking sound may be a popping or a snapping that could be loud enough; it can be heard by other people around.

There may be pain that accompanies this clicking but with or without the pain, it signals that the TMJ has a displaced disc or that it is irritated or inflamed.  The next symptom is locking of the jaw, meaning that the jaw gets stuck when it is opened or closed.

A change in the bite of a person is another direct symptom for TMJ.  Once again, as the TMJ becomes displaced, the teeth do not line up properly and the bite or the dental occlusion is not aligned.

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Indirect symptoms for TMJ may be as follows:  persistent headaches, dizziness, photophobia, hearing problems, stuffiness in the nose or sinus area, sensitive teeth, pain in the neck, shoulders and back, tenderness of the face muscles upon awakening, and even depression.

In order to differentiate a TMJ headache from any other headache, these kinds of headaches are usually located in the temples, back of the head and shoulders.  The displaced disc in the TMJ causes pain that usually centralizes itself in these areas.  Dizziness is a symptom of TMJ because if the TMJ is inflamed it affects the inner ear which is the area that gives people a sense of balance.

TMJ can also cause light sensitivity because it produces pain behind the eye.  Eye twitching and blurred vision can also be taken as TMJ symptoms in addition to this.

Because the TM joint is located near the ears, anything problem with the TMJ affects the ears.  It affects the ear in ways like ear pain, ringing in the ear and in serious cases may even lead to loss of hearing.

If there is no congestion in the nose but stuffiness is felt, it can also be a symptom of TMJ.  Additionally, if a person clenches his teeth during sleep, the facial muscles may feel tender upon awakening, there is pain in