What can I do at home to help relieve mild TMD symptoms?

For mild symptoms, try eating soft foods, avoiding wide jaw movements like yawning or chewing gum, applying moist heat or cold packs to the jaw area, and practicing stress-reduction techniques, as stress can worsen TMDs. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help.

Is there a connection between stress and temporomandibular disorders?

Yes, research suggests that psychological and life stressors can play a role in why a TMD starts and whether it becomes long-lasting. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or counseling may help alleviate symptoms.

When should I see a doctor or dentist for my jaw pain or other TMD symptoms?

You should seek medical advice if your jaw pain is severe, persistent, limits your ability to eat or speak, or if your jaw frequently locks. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the condition from becoming chronic.

What are the early signs that my jaw pain might be a temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

Look for persistent pain in your chewing muscles or jaw joint, pain that spreads to your face or neck, jaw stiffness, limited jaw movement, or a painful clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw. These symptoms, especially if they don't resolve quickly, can indicate a TMD.

Temporomandibular Disorders

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions affecting the jaw joints and muscles, often causing pain, stiffness, and chewing difficulties.

What are temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)?

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that affect your temporomandibular joints (TMJs). You have two TMJs; one on each side of your jaw. They connect your lower jaw to your skull.

TMDs can cause problems in your jaw joint and your muscles that control jaw movement. These problems can include pain, stiffness, and trouble chewing. There are three main types of TMDs:

Disorders of your jaw joints
Disorders of the muscles you use for chewing
Headaches from a TMD

Many TMDs last only a short time and go away on their own. However, in some cases they can become chronic (long lasting).

What causes temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)?

Sometimes an injury to the jaw or TMJ can cause a TMD. But in most cases, the cause is not known. Research suggests that certain factors may play a role in why a TMD starts and whether it will be long lasting:

Genetics
Psychological and life stressors
How someone perceives pain

Who is more likely to develop a temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?

Anyone can develop a TMD, but it is more common in women than in men. It is most common in women between 35 and 44 years old.

What are the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)?

The symptoms of TMDs may include:

Pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint. This is the most common symptom.
Pain that spreads to the face or neck.
Jaw stiffness.
Limited movement or locking of the jaw.
Painful clicking or popping in your jaw joint when you open or close your mouth. However, clicking or popping without pain is common and is not a sign of a TMD.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, or dizziness.
A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

How are temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) diagnosed?

There is no standard test used to diagnose TMDs, and some other conditions can cause some similar symptoms. This can make TMDs hard to diagnose. To find out if you have a TMD, your health care provider or dentist:

Will take a detailed medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms, such as where the pain is, when you have it, what makes it better or worse, if it spreads, and if you have other pain conditions like headache or back pain.
Will examine your head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness, jaw clicking or popping, and problems moving your jaw.
May order imaging studies such as an x-ray, MRI, or CT.

What are the treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)?

For many people, the symptoms of TMD are temporary. To help you feel better, your provider or dentist may suggest that you:

Eat soft foods.
Apply heat or cold to the face and do some exercises to gently stretch and strengthen your jaw muscles.
Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
Stop clenching your jaw, chewing gum, and biting your nails.

If those do not help, your provider or dentist may suggest other treatments such as:

Physical therapy
Self-management and behavioral health approaches, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help identify negative thoughts and Biofeedback to learn how to control muscle tension.
Medicines such as anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants, anti-seizure medicines, or prescription pain relievers.
An intraoral appliance, which is a device that fits over your teeth. If you use one, ensure it is not designed to permanently change your bite and notify your provider if it makes your pain worse.
Complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS).

If you are still having severe symptoms, your provider or dentist may suggest surgery. It is very important to get opinions from more than one provider and to completely understand the risks before proceeding with surgery.