Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. You have one on each side of your head, and this sliding hinge makes it possible to chew, talk, yawn, and swallow.
If your TMJ isn’t working as it should, we refer to that as a temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.
What Causes TMJ Pain?
TMJ pain can be caused by numerous factors, such as:
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Stress and muscle tension
- Physical trauma
- Arthritis
- Poor posture
- Chewing gum or biting your nails
What Are the Symptoms of TMJ?
Some of the main symptoms of TMJ include the following:
- Jaw pain or tenderness in front of your ear or in the jaw joint
- A clicking, popping, or grating sound when opening your mouth
- Trouble opening and closing your mouth
- Chewing discomfort or pain when you bite down
- A feeling like your upper and lower teeth don’t fit together properly
- Headaches near your temples
- Earaches or ringing in your ears
- Neck and shoulder tension
BOTOX® in Doylestown, PA
If you’d like to learn more about how we use BOTOX to treat TMJ issues, please reach out to our caring dental team! At Doylestown Dental Group, we’ll assess your symptoms and work to get you the relief you deserve.