The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are located in front of your ears and connect the jaw bone to the skull. This complex system of muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons can cause pain and discomfort when something goes wrong. If you experience tmj symptoms, talk with your dentist or doctor about treatment options. They will perform a facial and oral exam and order X-rays if needed. They will probably recommend treatments that help relieve your symptoms, such as a mouth splint for teeth grinding, relaxation techniques or biofeedback.
Many Bellevue TMJ patients describe a clicking sound when opening or closing their mouth. Some also experience balance-related symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo.
Pain in the jaw or face
If you have jaw pain due to TMD, your doctor or dentist may suggest over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. They may also recommend avoiding habits that make your pain worse, such as chewing gum or biting your nails, or clenching your teeth. They may also prescribe a plastic splint to wear at night to reduce clenching and grinding, or a mouthguard. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged tissue or joints.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam, including listening to the area around the joint when you open and close your mouth. They may also check if your jaw moves smoothly up and down and side to side. If you have a clicking sound with limited jaw movement, this is a sign of TMD.
Clicking or popping sound when opening or closing the mouth
A clicking or popping sound when opening your mouth wide to take a bite or yawn is a sign that the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may be in trouble. It can be caused by a number of factors including misalignment of the jaw, trauma to the jaw or head, teeth grinding (bruxism), arthritis of the TMJ or ear, and stress.
Occasional jaw clicking isn’t a big deal, but if the noises are regular and accompanied by pain or an inability to open and close your mouth, it’s time to see a doctor who specializes in TMJ disorder. Managing the issue early will help prevent lasting complications from developing. TMJ therapy will often include a combination of treatments such as pain medications, exercises, physical therapy and splints.
Swelling in the face or jaw
Swelling of the jaw or face may occur if you have a serious infection of the TMJ. This infection is called cellulitis. The swelling usually occurs on the side of the face near the ear, and it can cause pain and a clicking sound. The swelling may also spread to the cheek or neck.
The simplest way to treat TMJ symptoms is to avoid chewing gum and other chewy foods, and to reduce stress. You should also rest the jaw joint by avoiding clenching or grinding your teeth. In addition, ice and heat can help to decrease muscle tension.
Earaches or ringing in the ear
The TMJs connect your lower jawbone to your skull and help with movements like chewing and speaking. TMJ dysfunctions, also called TMD or temporomandibular disorder, affect not only the jaw joints but muscles and ligaments surrounding them. TMD symptoms include pain and difficulty opening and closing the mouth. Other issues such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) often occur with TMD and can be caused by inflammation or displacement of the jaw joint putting pressure on nerves and structures leading to and within the ear.
Treatment of TMD flare-ups often involves symptomatic relief and addressing the underlying causes of the pain. Simple home remedies such as eating soft foods, applying ice to the jaw, avoiding wide yawning and gum chewing, and minimizing stress with relaxation techniques can all be helpful.
Headaches or dizziness
Symptoms may be worsened by physical activities, such as chewing or closing the mouth, lifting heavy objects, or yawning. Headaches and dizziness occur due to pressure on the nerves and muscles around the TMJ.
These symptoms can also resemble a migraine, sinus headache, earache or neck pain. Fortunately, with conservative treatments and avoiding trigger behaviors, most people can get relief from TMJ symptoms.
Your doctor may also order an MRI to check for problems with the structure of your TMJs and other structures in the head and neck. You can often help reduce symptoms by following a soft diet, using moist heat or cold packs on your jaw, practicing relaxation techniques and avoiding teeth grinding (bruxism). Most medical and dental insurance plans cover TMJ treatment.