TMJ is a common health problem that affects areas such as head, neck, shoulders, jaw and the back. It is accompanied by pain and discomfort in the jaw. TMJ is basically caused by an inflammation in the jaw, which eventually causes a TMJ symptom you might or might not notice.
Some patients do not feel any symptoms of their TMJ condition at all. However, it is important to find treatment right away, since TMJ does not only affect the jaw.
TMJ Symptoms
One of the first things you may notice when you have TMJ is feeling a particular soreness in your facial muscles or jaws upon waking up in the morning. You may find that you have a hard time opening and closing your mouth, or biting properly. These conditions make it especially difficult for you to chew or eat certain types of food. TMJ can also impair speech to a certain degree, as the jaw tends to lock or experience too much tension.
You may notice that, along with the impairment of physical function are sounds you may notice in your jaw like clicking and popping. Grinding sounds can also occur as you start to grind your teeth to find a good bite. Grinding can occur at night when you are sleeping, so if your roommate or partner tells you about this the next day, then may have the condition.
The Visible Symptoms
Visible symptoms would include the jaw protruding from the patients face. If you need to physically pull your jaw backwards towards your ears just to have a comfortable bite, then you may have a TMJ symptom. When you have TMJ, your body reflexes by using your chewing muscles to tow your jaw forward.
If the case becomes worsened your head may start to lean forward as your anterior neck muscles gradually stretch. This can give you overall bad posture.
The more obvious sign and symptom of TMJ is if the areas around your mouth become red and swollen. Another obvious sign is having an unbalanced lip position and a prominent facial fold under the chin.
Symptoms Of Other Conditions
The problem with TMJ is that it can cause other conditions. Symptoms can be experienced in linked conditions such as headaches and ringing in the ears, since the head and ears are one of the closest body parts to the affected jaw. You may feel constantly dizzy or develop sleeping disorders because of the discomfort.
TMJ symptom can cause you to experience back pains and even difficulty swallowing/breathing. You may also develop cervical problems including pain and discomfort in the cervix, since a TMJ pain can gradually be found below the head and neck.
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