Are you finding that you’re experiencing a type of discomfort that you have never experienced before? Is something causing you surprisingly consistent discomfort in your jaw area but you cannot remember incurring any type of injury? If so, you may find that like millions of other individuals, you are dealing with an oral health problem called TMJ disorder. Curious about what makes jaw discomfort a red flag for this oral health issue – and if anything can be done? Learn a bit more.

About Your Jaw Discomfort

We always suggest patients visit us for a dental exam if they notice they are experiencing jaw discomfort. This is commonly a sign that you are experiencing TMJ disorder because your TMJs are your jaw joints. The abbreviation stands for temporomandibular joint. You have one of these joints positioned on either side of your head. They connect your jaw and temporal bone and provide you with the ability to move your jaw. When something problematic occurs with your TMJs, from injury to too much daily stress and strain, you may experience pain and tenderness that remain local or that spreads outward, affecting your face, head, neck, shoulders, and back.

Other Symptoms

While discomfort is certainly a strong indicator of TMJ disorder, we also ask patients about other common symptoms that may point to an underlying concern. For instance, does your jaw tend to pop or make other noises when you open or close your mouth? Have you ever experienced a jaw that suddenly locks up for a moment? Do you hear a ringing in your ears? When we receive a “yes” to one or more of these questions, we will positively diagnose the concern and follow up by suggesting TMJ treatment.