The Top 5 Signs and Symptoms of TMJ

If you suffer from unexplained symptoms and pain associated with your jaw muscles and joints, you may be wondering if you might have TMJ. Somewhere around 12 million people around the world suffer from TMJ everyday. If you suffer from one or more of the symptoms here, the possibility that you have TMJ is quite great.

Here are the Top 5 Signs and Symptoms of TMJ:

1.) Jaw Stiffness & Pain.
People with TMJ often explain that their jaw always feels stiff and sore, as if they had been chewing gum for hours. This can lead to a tired feeling in the jaw, making it very difficult or even painful to chew even soft foods.

2.) Ear Pain.
The discomfort and pain of the jaw can often radiate to the ears. Sometimes this is a sharp pain and other times a dull ache.

3.) Neck and Shoulder Pain.
Tension and pain in the neck is common among those with TMJ syndrome. TMJ puts immense stress and pressure on the surrounding muscles and joints. Poor posture can amplify this symptom.

4.) Jaw Clicking and Popping.
One of the most disturbing symptoms of TMJ yet the most telltale is a clicking or popping of the jaw, especially while yawning, singing, or chewing. This is painful in some cases, and in others it is not.

5.) Lock Jaw.
Lock jaw describes a difficulty opening the jaw properly. In very severe cases the individual may not even be able to open their jaw at all. In that instance, immediate intervention is needed.