Difficulty Chewing

Temporomandibular disorders are more than 30 conditions affecting the jaw joints and muscles that control jaw movement. Injury can lead to some TMDs, but the exact cause is often unclear.

Move the jaw only within a comfortable range. Reducing tooth contact except for chewing, swallowing, and speaking can reduce discomfort where tooth contact triggers pain.

There is no single standard test for TMD. Assessment records pain and examines the head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness, sounds, and movement difficulty; x-ray, MRI, or CT may be used.

Many TMDs last a short time and resolve without treatment. When symptoms persist, conservative methods are used first; stretching exercises, stress reduction, and behavioural therapy are described options.

Avoid treatments that permanently change the jaw joint where possible, particularly surgery or TMJ implants. Stretching can improve range of motion, although it does not always do so.

TMD can also involve ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, face or neck pain, and a change in how the upper and lower teeth meet. Headaches, back pain, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome can occur alongside TMDs.

Jaw pain during opening, closing, chewing, or on waking, and an uneven bite, are signs that need assessment. A mouth sore lasting a week or longer also needs examination.