I came across TMJ when I needed to treat literal neck pain that wouldn’t go away. It seemed like the pain in my neck was coming from my jaws. “TMJ” refers to disorders of the muscles of the jaw and the temporomandibular joint, the hinge on the side of the head that joins the lower jaw, the mandible, with the temporal bone of the skull. TMJ expert John Taddey, DDS, states that one of the most common symptoms of TMJ is a dull, aching pain around the ears that can radiate to the neck, shoulders, and the back of the head. These symptoms can be accompanied by tenderness in the jaw muscles and a headache.

While the causes of TMJ are many, the condition is often the result of a collective malfunction of the chewing muscles, teeth, and the temporomandibular joint. The muscles of the face and jaw can spasm or cramp, causing tissue damage, pain, and tenderness. The level of damage and pain varies.

Diaganose from the TMJ can be difficult to reach. Recognizing TMJ requires a deep understanding of the two-inch area just in front of the ears that houses the temporomandibular joint, sinuses, glands, middle and inner ear, throat tissues, brain tissue, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic tissues. , bones and teeth. The TMJ can be masked as “referred pain.” This occurs when pain felt in one area of ​​the body comes from another source. For example, you may visit your doctor with an earache and find that your ear is healthy, while a decayed tooth or TMJ is the leading cause of earache.

TMJ can arise from trauma, whiplash, stress, teeth grinding and clenching, misaligned teeth, sore or missing teeth, muscle abuse, infections, joint diseases such as arthritis and cancer.

Your family dentist should be able to recognize TMJ. Depending on your condition, she may treat TMJ herself or refer you to a physician, orthodontist, chiropractor, psychologist, or oral surgeon for more specialized treatment.

For more information on how to identify and treat TMJ yourself, read TMJ Self-Help Program: Recognizing a TMJ Problem: What to Do to Relieve Pain and Restore Health: When to Seek Professional Help by John Taddely, DDS with Constance Schrader and James Dillon.