You might have endured headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial pain, ear pain, pain behind or around the eyes, neck pain, shoulder pain and even back pain.
What you may have been living with is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). Your Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the most intricate and complex joint in your entire body, essentially connecting your jawbone to your skull.
TMD is a disorder that appears when there is an imbalance between your jaw, your skull and the muscles attaching them. Because of this imbalance, your muscles experience spasms which eventually create a misalignment of your jaw joints.
Do you suffer from any of the following:
- Aching or clicking jaw?
- Grinding of your teeth?
- Pain or discomfort in your face? Neck? Shoulders?
- Numbness in the tips of your fingers? Hands?
- Regular headaches? Dizziness?
- Inability to fully open your mouth?
Any of these symptoms could be signs that you suffer from TMD. When your jaw joints are under stress as a result of over/mis-use, TMD can occur.
Teeth Grinding
Bruxism – or teeth grinding and teeth clenching – also contribute to TMD. While the cause of bruxism is unknown, it is believed that stress is a factor. Another theory explains that by clenching or grinding your teeth, you are involuntarily compensating for an incorrect bite.