It is truly amazing how intricate the human body is and how one area can so drastically affect another area in the body. This includes the effect of proper jaw alignment on the body. You may have heard the terms TMD and TMJ thrown around, but might not know how these affect you – or even what they mean.

What are TMJ and TMD?

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that attached your jaw to your skull. If you place your finger right in front of your ears and opened and close your mouth, you can feel the movement of the TMJ. It is a ball-and-socket joint that helps us chew our food, swallow, yawn, and speak.

TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, which is any disease or condition that affects the temporomandibular joint. It is a rather generic term that can encompass a host of conditions. It is estimated that close to half of the population experiences TMD related symptoms and pain at some point in their life.

Symptoms of TMD

How do you know if you are suffering from TMD? The most common symptoms of TMD are:

· Headaches

· Migraines

· Clicking or popping in the jaw

· Soreness in the jaw or face

· Pain in the neck, shoulders, or back

· Ear pain or ringing in the ears

· Problems chewing

· Cracked or chipped teeth

· Stiffness or soreness in the jaw upon waking

Causes of TMD

It is hard to know what causes TMD and even today doctors are not completely sure why it happens. There are some reasons that have been known to create TMD, and some of those include:

· An accident where you were hit in the face by an object or you suffered some other sort of trauma to the jaw

· Clenching and grinding of the teeth (bruxism)

· Stress, which can create muscle spasms

· Poor alignment of the teeth, called malocclusion

· Arthritis in the TMJ

· Tumors in the TMJ

Treatment for TMD

If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, it is time to talk to your dentist. They will provide a thorough examination including:

· Reviewing your history with the problem. It is important to discuss when you started noticing symptoms and if they occur at certain times.

· Examining your jaw and how it moves. This will allow them to see where the misalignment is.

· Looking at your teeth for cracks, chips, or signs of grinding.

· Examining the muscles in your face and neck to locate any tenderness.

TMD is treatable once you and your dentist have identified the specific problems. Treatment sometimes includes:

· Modifying your diet to avoid hard foods and eating smaller pieces of food.

· Forms of physical therapy which can include heat and massage treatments and ultrasounds

· Using a nightguard, which can help control clenching and grinding while sleeping

· Stress reduction

· Pain relievers, muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatorily medications

· Bite adjustments, which could include reshaping the teeth so they fit together properly.