The Varied Painful Symptoms For TMJ

By Debbie Smith

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a problem with the jaw that is also referred to by the acronym TMJ. Symptoms for TMJ vary widely and not everyone experiences the same ones. Often, people experience only a few of the indications of the disorder while other patients suffer from many more.

Jaw pain is perhaps the number one indication of this disorder. When a person moves his jaw from side to side or simply opens his or her mouth wide, pain in the jaw area areas. The pain can often be relieved with gentle massage of the area but, in some cases, it remains uncomfortable.

Earaches are another associated trait of the jaw problem. Patients may experience pain in one ear which they associate with infection only to find out from a physician that there is none. In this case, a visit to the dentist is in order to correctly discern the reason for the earache.

Chronic or frequent headaches may be a sign that a person has the jaw disorder. These headaches are often debilitating and can even wake sufferers from a sound sleep. Headaches, though, can be caused by a multitude of reasons so this one indication is unlikely to mean TMJ.

A pop or click that occurs in the jaw can indicate this problem as well. The jaw should not normally produce a sound when it is moved up and down are to the side. Patients sometimes experience pain along with the noise which are strong indicators that a disorder exists.

Swollen and red cheeks are often caused by the jaw problem but might be a symptom of bad teeth. Cavities as well as jaw disorders can produce facial swelling. Patients seeking relief should apply an ice bag to the area until they can visit their dentist for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Tooth sensitivity is yet another problem that may be associated with this particular disorder. Again, this type of symptom might be due to infection or a cavity rather than a jaw issue. For this reason, the dentist must rule out other issues and look at all the problems the patient is exhibiting before diagnosis.

The symptoms for TMJ often are similar to other dental problems and even non-dental issues. Doctors and dentists must look at everything before they decide whether the patient has this jaw disorder or some other illness. Patients are encouraged to visit their dentists any type they exhibit any problem that is likely related to the jaw.

About the Author:

Ear pain, headaches and dizziness are common symptoms for TMJ. You can find details about the different TMJ therapy options on our site, now.