Beyond Clicking—5 Signs You Might Have TMJ Issues
In recent years TMJ issues have become more widely recognized in the public perception. Most of us know about the warning signs of popping and clicking—all those percussive noises our jaws make when they’re out of alignment. These are some of the most easily recognizable symptoms of a Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), which occurs when the jaw is not seated properly in its socket.
While clicking is usually a sign of TMD, many other symptoms are less commonly recognized and diagnosed. This is unfortunate, because if we don’t recognize these symptoms, we can’t treat the underlying disorder.
At Balota Family Dentistry, we believe that accurate information is key to understanding how our bodies work. As we’ve treated hundreds of people with TMD, we have noticed a variety of symptoms that often go unnoticed—and therefore untreated. Here are five of them.
5 Signs you might have TMD:
1. Head- and neck-aches. The jaw is connected to muscles that travel down to your neck and up to your skull. While head and neck aches are often chalked up to stress, there are often underlying dental factors. If your jaw is not seated correctly in its socket, that introduces a lot of strain into all the surrounding muscles—especially if you clench or grind your teeth.
2. Locked jaw. One of the more severe symptoms of TMD is a locked jaw. You used to be able to eat a Big Mac, but suddenly you can’t open your mouth wide enough. A locked jaw is often coming out of the blue, unexpected. The jaw muscles spasm, preventing you from closing or opening your mouth properly. This all points back to your TMJ.
3. Grinding. When your upper and lower teeth are out of alignment with each other, your jaw automatically searches for its proper place. This is especially common at night, when your muscles go on auto-pilot. Grinding like this is a common symptom of TMJ issues.
4. Tooth wear. Teeth are very strong, so wear is not normal. When someone’s molars are flat or cracked, or their lower incisors have a lot of wear, a TMJ issue is likely the cause.
5. Tinnitus. The ball and socket in your jaw is a few millimeters away from your inner ear, so tinnitus can act as one of the signals that your TMJ is out of alignment. This can also lead to dizziness, since the inner ear is what gives you your sense of balance. If you have already seen an ENT and it’s not an ear problem, it’s likely a TMD problem.
Of course, this is just a blog—not a diagnosis. If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have TMD. What it means is that it’s time for a checkup!
Dr. Nora Balota focuses on TMJ issues and has helped many patients restore their dental health. If you’re concerned about any of the above symptoms, schedule a visit with Balota Family Dentistry. We’d love to help you!
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