TMJ Symptoms That Mimic Regular Medical Conditions

Many TMJ disorder sufferers do not realize they have TMJ symptoms because the signs can be difficult to detect in the early stages. This is because some of the more common symptoms include seemingly everyday medical conditions like earaches, headaches, jaw pain and “clicking” or “popping” sounds when opening or closing the mouth.

Unfortunately, this mis-diagnosis results in valuable time lost as sufferers consult with numerous doctors or specialists looking for a cure. Those who are lucky enough to contact a dentist in the early stages avoid unnecessary pain as they get the pain relief they so desperately need.

Teeth Grinding & Clenching

One of the most common signs of TMJ disorder is teeth grinding (also referred to as bruxism). When a person clenches or grinds his or her teeth, extra stress is added onto already tired and overworked muscles. This stress is then transferred to the head, neck, face, shoulders, and in some extreme cases, the back.

Headaches

Another common symptom of TMJ disorder that is usually mistaken for a regular medical condition is headaches. The biggest reason people do not associate headaches as a TMJ symptom is because they are more commonly confused with migraine headaches.

TMJ headaches usually resonate in the temple area (right behind the eyes), the back of the head, and the pain travels along the neck and shoulders. On the other hand, migraine headaches cause visual impairments (including sensitivity to light) and can be felt mainly on one side of the head. Unfortunately, the treatment for migraine headaches do not provide permanent relief for TMJ disorder induced headaches. To get proper diagnosis for TMJ disorder, you will need to consult a dentist or a dental specialist and not a neurologist. An excellent source of information for TMJ disorder treatment is the American Academy of Head, Neck and Facial Pain.

Jaw Clicking & Popping

Many people dismiss this symptom as an everyday occurrence because at the early stages, jaw clicking and popping does not usually interfere in their daily lives. The clicking sound happens when the condyle moves forward when the mouth opens and the condyle slips on and off the dislocated disc. The bad news is that if left alone, the condition could become worse. This is why early detection is crucial. When the clicking sound becomes louder, chances are the condition is getting worse and the pain can intensify rapidly.

How To Avoid A Delayed Diagnoses

Remember that some of the common TMJ symptoms that can masquerade as common medical problems include headaches, earaches, jaw pain and “clicking” or “popping” sounds when opening or closing the mouth. If any of these symptoms persists for an extended amount of time and only seem to be getting worse, then you need to seek medical attention immediately. In the meantime, if you are in pain, find out how jaw exercises can help with TMJ pain relief.