Common Causes of TMJ Dysfunction

As December rolls around, it brings with it softly falling snow, festive christmas music, and jolly holiday decorations. Bright and colorful lights cast their glow on our seasonal celebrations and all is at peace. Or so they say. For some of us, the busy time of year holds many stressors and preparations that leave us feeling more like a malfunctioning nutcracker with a popping jaw and a pounding headache. Oh the joys of TMJ dysfunction! What causes it anyway? TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, it is the joint that generates movement in the jaw allowing us to chew, speak, yawn, and swallow. The joint is situated between the temporal bone and mandible, just in front of the ear canal, with an articular disc between the two joint surfaces. You can feel the motion of the joint if you rest your fingers just in front of your ears and open and close your mouth. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) most frequently occur when there is dysfunction involving the TMJ muscles, articular disc, or joint structures. Common signs and symptoms include pain in the joint and surrounding muscles, limited range of motion, clicking/popping/grating sounds in the TMJ, headaches/earaches, and locking of the jaw. Whether you do a lot of talking throughout your day, enjoy eating steak, or sing carols on your commute, your jaw muscles are working hard. Usually they are well equipped to handle everything we throw at them from day to day, but just like any muscle in the body, if they are overworked and fatigued, tension and pain subsequently occur. Many people find themselves clenching their teeth throughout the day as they focus or confront stressful situations, others wake up with a sore jaw from grinding their teeth at night. Stress, depression, and anxiety largely contribute to increased tension in the TMJ musculature, which can cause headaches over the temples and forehead. Forward head posture causes muscle imbalances in the head and neck, leading to uneven tension in the TMJ and compressing the joint. Bruxism (the act of clenching or grinding the teeth), improper posture, chewing gum excessively, and chewing food on one side of the mouth, are a few of the habits that can initiate or exacerbate TMD. Articular disc dysfunction in the TMJ can be brought on by a variety of factors. Head or neck injuries (whiplash, concussion, etc.) can strain the muscles and sprain the ligaments surrounding the joint, causing the articular disc to slip forward or backward as the ligaments keeping it in place are stretched. Anterior displacement of the disc (slipping forward) can cause a click or popping sound as you open and close your mouth. Posterior displacement of the disc (slipping backwards) is less common and results in the mouth being locked open. Bruxism and arthritis can cause degenerative changes in the joint, which also affect the placement of the articular disc. Massage therapy has proven to be an effective treatment option for TMD. Using soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilizations, and take-home exercises, your massage therapist can form a treatment plan to help you move forward. Perhaps there is a potential for a peaceful Christmas after all.