What Can Cause a TMJ Disorder? 5 Common Culprits

Constant or recurring jaw pain likely means you have a TMJ disorder, or TMD for short. But what exactly caused the problem? This isn’t always an easy question to answer, as there are multiple ways for the TMJs (temporomandibular joints) that connect your jaw to your skull to become injured or strained. That said, there are 5 particularly common TMD causes that you should keep an eye out for.

1. Trauma

In many cases, a TMD is the direct result of some kind of accident involving the jaw joints or the muscles around them. Common examples include car accidents and hitting your chin while falling. Note that while you’ll often start noticing TMD-related pain shortly after your trauma, in other cases it might take years for your symptoms to become noticeable.

2. An Improperly Healed Fracture

If you had a fractured jaw in the past, there’s a chance that the bone might not have healed correctly. This can lead to an alignment issue that puts an excessive amount of stress on your jaw joints. The longer your joints are exposed to this stress, the more likely you are to start noticing TMD symptoms.

3. Teeth Misalignment

Your upper and lower rows of teeth are designed in a way that lets them balance the forces of your bite. But if your teeth don’t line up properly, one side of your mouth might have a stronger biting force than the other, which places extra strain on the TMJ on that side of the mouth. If the alignment issue isn’t corrected, the stress it puts on the jaw could lead to a TMD.

4. Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Did you know that you might be grinding or clenching your teeth at night without realizing it? This is called bruxism, and the stress it puts on your facial muscles and jaw can very easily lead to TMD. Even worse, constant grinding can wear down your enamel and create teeth alignment problems, potentially making the issues contributing to TMD even worse. 

5.  Stress

Stress is believed to be a major factor for bruxism; the more stressed or anxious you are, the more likely you are to grind or clench your teeth while sleeping. Consequently, this means that stress could also eventually lead to a TMD. For this reason, when your doctor or dentist is putting together a treatment plan to help relieve your jaw pain, they might also recommend ways you can manage your stress.

It’s worth noting that sometimes, the exact cause of a TMD is never made clear. However, your dentist may still be able to help you find lasting relief with treatments such as occlusal adjustments and occlusal splints. If you’re tired of living with constant jaw pain, give your dentist a call today to see how they can help you overcome it.

About the Author

Dr. Cooper Owens has over 15 years of dental experience under his belt. He served as a dentist for the United States Air Force for six years; after being honorably discharged in 2008, he purchased his Geneva dental office. Today he offers a wide variety of treatments for improving oral health, including occlusal splints and occlusal adjustments for treating TMJ. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Owens, visit his website or call (440) 466-4884.