subject: Ways To Identify Tmj Symptoms [print this page] The temporomandibular joints are positioned below the ear on both the sides of the head. The joints are made up of tendons, bones and muscles and they help a person to open or close their Jaws. This complex part of the human anatomy is extremely important when it comes to doing basic things like chewing, yawning and even talking. TMJ symptoms are related to troubles arising from the jaw joint.
TMJ disorders can be caused by a number of reasons. Stress is a major reason for issues in the TMJ area as clenching your jaw often or grinding your teeth while you are asleep can cause soreness and stiffness in the area. Another major issue could be chewing gum all day or having a habit of biting your nails too often. Constant movement of the jaw can cause wear and tear that eventually leads to trouble.
Dental issues or even and an incident that has caused trauma to the jaw can be a reason for TMJ disorder affecting the opening and closing of the jaw in a natural way. The symptoms of TMJ disorder are varied and are briefly outlined here. Although a visit to the physician should confirm any suspicions.
Many people complain of headaches similar to migraine due to TMJ disorders and they are sometimes misdiagnosed as such. The pain is concentrated on the temporal area hence the misconception. A radiating pain can affect the ear as well similar to an ear infection though a proper check can diagnose the problem correctly. The pain is around the ear area.
The face can become swollen and red. The mouth area can also be red and swollen due to trouble with the bite and chewing. The patient may hear popping and crunching sounds which may or may not be followed with pain in the same area. A number of patients may also feel dizzy though the reason for this is not clear.
Patients may suffer more severe problems like speech defects due to TMJ disorder. The patients may also suffer hearing problems and feel like their ears are filled with air hence muffling sounds. Sometimes the symptoms include ringing in the ears.
TMJ patients who do not realise the root of their problem have the disorder affecting their lives since it interferes in even finding a comfortable bite and chewing food. The jaws may lock in place making it difficult for the patient to move their jaw open and take in nutrition. Sometimes it can lead to a dangerous situation where emergency help may be needed.
The more severe situations can lead to patients eating soft foods for a while and avoiding biting hard and chewing tough foods. They need to control their bad habits like chewing nails and gum. They need to keep the stress of the jaw area. The doctor would normally give some medications and soothing agents that calm and relax the muscles though a change in lifestyle is important to keep the damage minimum.
The pain the patient feels can vary from throbbing headaches to throat pain. Other TMJ joint symptoms include pain in the back, neck and overall stiffness.
