What is the temporomandibular joint? The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is that part that is just in front of your ear, on both sides of your face, where the lower jaw, or mandible, meets the upper jaw, or maxilla. This joint has moving parts that let the upper jaw close over the lower jaw.


This is a “ball and socket” joint, which has a disc that is sandwiched in between it. This joint is used a lot. When you eat, talk, yawn, or do anything to open your mouth, you’re actually engaging this joint.


It is one of the most oft used joints in the human body. The temporomandibular joints is quite complex, and made up of bones, muscles and tendons. All the different parts work together for the TMJ to work properly. When the joint is balanced and relaxed, we are able to use our mouths properly and without any pain. Temporomandibular joint disease or disorder, also know as TMD, is a pain of the jaw joint connecting the temporal bone of the head.

The patient experiences sore jaw muscles, difficulty in chewing, pain of facial muscles, headaches, earaches, toothaches, grating sounds of the jaw joint while opening and closing of the mouth.

To find out where your TMJ is, place a finger on the triangular structure that you can feel towards the front side of the ear. Press it down slightly, but firmly. When you open your jaw, you can feel the TMJ moving. You can also feel the joint moving slightly if you place a finger inside the ear canal. This can cause considerable pain and discomfort to a person who has temporomandibular joint disease, and doctors make use of this in diagnosing the problem.

What is TMJ disorder? TMJ disorder is the name for a group of complex problems that affect the jaw joint. These problems may also be known as myofacial pain dysfunction or Costen’s syndrome. Since these muscles, tendons and bones all work in conjunction with each other, a problem with any one of these may lead to the others malfunctioning too. This can lead to temporomandibular joint pain, headaches, stiffness, ear ache, problems with the bite (makocclussion), clicking sounds when moving the joint, or lock jaw.

What causes TMJ disorder? There are various possible causes of TMJ disorder. These may include the following:

• Improperly fitted teeth: The jaw is not aligned because of improperly fitted teeth.
• Orthopedic problems: Arthritis, bone disorders or injury can cause TMD.
• Postural problems: Improper posture like putting the chin forward, holding the phone between the shoulder and cheek, carrying heavy bags on the shoulder can strain the neck and jaw muscles.
• Chewing gum can cause TMD.
• Blow to the jaw can cause TMD.

• Teeth clenching and teeth grinding habits often lead to TMJ problems. This happens because grinding the teeth wears away the layer of cartilage between the joint. Often, people who have this habit are unaware of it, and must be reminded by somebody else that they are doing it. This often happens when the person is asleep. Often, dentists can tell this from tell-tale marks and wear and tear. Often, these people wake up with pain in the jaw or ear.

• Regularly biting the finger nails or habitual chewing of gum.

• Mal-alignment of teeth (malocclusion) or other dental problems. Some patients report that it is hard to find a perfect fit for the teeth, and that a proper bite is hard to achieve. Often times, chewing on only one side of the jaw can case TMJ problems. This often happens with people who have cavities or fillings on one side of the mouth.

• Previous trauma or injury to the jaw. Older fractures in the jaw or facial bones can sometimes lead to TMJ problems.

• TMJ arthritis may be a painful cause, but can be easily treated.

• Stress often leads to TMJ problems. Often, stressed out people clench and unclench teeth, or unconsciously grind them, leading to problems.

• Repetitive tasks like cradling the phone between the ear and shoulder may lead to change in alignment, which can cause TMJ problems.

• Overuse of the jaw muscles.

• Spasms of the facial muscles.

Temporomandibular joint disorder symptoms.

• Headaches: Almost 80 percent of TMJ patients report having headaches, while about 40 per cent say they have myofascial pain. The exposure to air conditioning or cold weather often increases pain, as it makes the muscles contract.

• Ear pain: About half of TMJ patients say they have an ear pain without an ear infection. This pain is normally felt just in front of below the ear. These people are sometimes misdiagnosed and treated for ear infection. In TMJ disorders, there is no hearing loss.

• Sounds while moving the joint: Popping, clicking, crunching, or grinding sounds are often felt by TMJ patients. These are sometimes accompanied by an increase in pain.

• Dizziness: About 40 percent of TMJ patients have a slight sense of imbalance or dizziness, unlike the dizziness associated with vertigo. The reasons for this dizziness are not clearly known.

• Ear fullness: Some patients report clogged, muffled, or full ears. This is especially noticeable during takeoffs and landings in a flight. This is caused by a dysfunction in the Eustachian tube.

• Tinnitus or ringing of the ears: About a third of patients also find the noise of ringing in the ears. Most of these patients find that the noise goes away after treatment.

Temporomandibular joint disorder treatment. There are a variety of TMJ treatment options available. These include the following:

• Rest: Resting the joint by keeping teeth apart as much as can be helps a lot with TMJ pain relief. Patients also need to recognize the behaviors that cause this, like grinding. Stay away from hard candy, gum or crunchy foods like raw fruit or nuts. Similarly, foods that require a wide range of joint movement, like hamburgers, should be avoided too.

• Heat and ice therapy: This, along with rest, is the mainstay of temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatment. They help to reduce tension in the muscles and spasms. After an injury, a cold pack is the best treatment for temporomandibular joint pain.

• Medication: Anti-inflammatory medicine or steroids control inflammation and can ease pain. Similarly, muscle relaxants can ease muscle spasms. Sometimes, doctors may give a local injection of cortisone preparations.

• Physical therapy: Massage, rehabilitation by slowly opening and closing the jaw, and other exercises help to strengthen and rehabilitate the jaw. This is shown to be an effective treatment for TMJ pain.

• Management of stress: Decreasing the amount of stress in your life, by methods like meditation, support groups, counseling, therapy, etc. can help.

• Occlusal therapy: In this kind of therapy, a small acrylic brace, fitting over the teeth, is prescribed for night usage. It may also be work in the day. This balances the bite and stops grinding.

• Correction of the bite: Corrective therapy and orthodontics may correct a misaligned bite.

• Surgery is a final option where all other therapy has failed. TMJ arthroscopy, joint restructuring, tightening of ligaments, and joint replacement may be considered as a cure for TMJ in extreme cases.
• Eat soft foods and chew slowly. Avoid hard-to-chew foods.

How to fix TMJ at home? TMJ treatment at home often includes exercises that strengthen the jaw and hot and cold therapy. However, since it is a problem with the bone structure, TMJ home remedies often give only temporary relief. It is important to see a doctor or dentist, and address the underlying TMJ symptoms and causes.