You may hear people say that they have TMJ when referring to popping, clicking, tightness, or pain in their jaw joint.

1. WHAT IS TMJ?
H ERE’S WH AT WE H AVE TO S AY ABOU T TH E TMJ
You may hear people say that they have
TMJ when referring to popping, clicking,
tightness, or pain in their jaw joint. The
term TMJ, however, actually stands for
temporomandibular joint, the hinged joint
located in front of each ear where the
jaw bone attaches to the skull.
What people usually mean to say is that
they have TMD (temporomandibular
dysfunction) or TMJD
(temporomandibular joint dysfunction),
the name of the condition affecting the
inside or the outside of the TMJ that
causes these symptoms.
Despite its relatively small size, the TMJ
has some really important jobs to do and
those suffering from TMD know that these joints can cause a whole lot of suffering
when they aren’t working optimally.
WH AT AN D WH ERE IS TH E TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint is located in front of the ear on each side of the face. It is
the connection between the mandible or jaw bone and the temporal bone of the skull.
The joint is a bit unique in that it acts a little like a hinge joint and a little like a ball-and-
socket joint. This allows for movements of the jaw in many directions. The jaw can
open and close, protrude (slide forward) or retrude (pull back), and move side to side.
The two joint surfaces are separated by an articular disc and surrounded by
fibrocartilage. Several ligaments stretch between the skull and the jaw bone to stabilize
the TMJ. Muscles of the face allow movement of the jaw in its many directions.
Without the TMJ you would find a long list of things you could no longer do. The
multiplanar movements of the jaw, facilitated by the TMJ, are necessary for chewing,
sucking, talking, swallowing, breathing, facial expressions, and opening and closing the
mouth to eat and drink. When loss of optimal function occurs in this joint we call it
TMD or TMJD and now that you know how important the TMJ is, you can see why
addressing this condition is so important.
LET’S TALK ABOU T TMD
Problems both within the joint itself and outside of the joint may fall under the umbrella
of TMD. Aside from the functional problems with eating, talking, facial expressions,
etc., dysfunction at the TMJ can also cause facial pain, jaw pain or soreness, jaw
fatigue, earache or ringing in the ears. Additionally headache, popping of the joint,
locking of the jaw, teeth sensitivity without dental issues, limited mouth motions, and
changes in the way the teeth fit together can occur. Often these symptoms are more
pronounced upon waking up and in the late afternoon. It is important to know that jaw
sounds like popping or clicking that are not accompanied by pain or limited jaw
movement are not considered a serious problem. The truth is, joints are noisy, even
healthy ones can make noise when there are no problems to worry about.
The cause of TMD may originate from problems with the joint such as arthritis or it can
originate in the muscles or ligaments that surround it. Often the cause of TMD is
DECEMBER 27, 2022
WAIT… DO I HAVE TMJ OR TMD?
HO M E S E RV IC E S A BO UT US T E A M RO C K S T E A DY BO X ING BL O G L O C AT IO NS P IL AT E S C A L L - 1 - 7 1 8 - 5 2 4 - 39 1 5

2. thought to be multifactorial. Biological, environmental, emotional, social, and cognitive
triggers for TMD exist. The incidence is higher in persons diagnosed with other
conditions such as autoimmune conditions, sleep apnea, mental illness, or fibromyalgia.
TMD can be the result of arthritis in the TMJ or from displacement of the articular disc.
Jaw or facial fractures and surgery of the face or jaw may lead to TMD in some
persons. Also problems with teeth alignment (malocclusion) and frequent jaw clenching
(bruxism) can trigger TMD. Even poor posture habits can lead to TMD if repeated
frequently. We don’t know the exact statistics on TMD but some estimates suggest
over 10 million Americans may be living with this condition.
WH AT CAN I DO IF MY JAW IS BOTH ERIN G ME?
If you’ve noticed that you are experiencing any of the symptoms of TMD you may be
wondering what you can do about it. If the problem is new and not severe or
accompanied by warmth, redness, or swelling of the joint, chest pain or pressure, or
fever, you can probably start with some at-home treatments to see if this helps. Here
are some things you can try:
• Set a timer when you are working to check in every 15-30 min and see if you are
clenching your jaw. Practice separating your teeth and relaxing your muscles
• Apply a cold or warm (not hot) compress to the area for 10-15 min. The cold can
help reduce inflammation while the warmth will increase blood flow and help relax
muscles. Be sure to set yourself a timer to remind you to take it off and don’t fall
asleep with either of these on
• Practice meditation or breathing techniques to help relax you and relieve stress.
Jaw clenching and teeth grinding often increase when we are stressed
• Work on your posture. Poor postural habits can exacerbate TMD. Try changing
positions throughout the day if you tend to sit in one place to work, for example,
for hours at a time
• Get a good night’s sleep and use a pillow that is supportive and allows your neck
and jaw to relax
WH EN TO CALL TH E DOCTOR…OR DEN TIS T
If you’ve tried these home remedies for a couple of weeks and aren’t seeing
improvements in your symptoms it is a good time to reach out to a professional.
Because several other health conditions can cause symptoms that mimic TMD it is
important to have a qualified healthcare professional examine you if you aren’t
improving quickly or if you have any symptoms that suggest a more acute problem. A
visit to your physician or dentist is a good first step. Sinus infections, certain types of
headaches, dental issues like a tooth abscess, and a nerve condition called trigeminal
neuralgia can also present as jaw symptoms but need to be treated differently than
TMD.
The most concerning cause of jaw pain or discomfort is cardiac ischemia or lack of
blood flow to the heart. This can occur during a heart attack but also can occur as a
warning side of an impending cardiac event. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain or pressure,
pain in the left hand, arm or shoulder, or even teeth pain that accompanies the jaw
symptoms could indicate a cardiac origin and needs immediate medical attention.
WH AT ABOU T PH YS ICAL TH ERAPY?
Physical therapy is an excellent form of conservative treatment for TMD. Because of
the multifactorial nature of these conditions, a physical therapist that takes a holistic
approach to your care can help you make changes or improvements in several of the
areas that could be contributing to your symptoms and teach you how to prevent
recurrence.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the treatments your physical therapist may use to
address jaw joint dysfunction:
Postural re-education: PT will assess for any postural abnormalities and teach you how
to be aware of them and begin to correct them.
Manual Therapy to improve jaw mobility: Restoring the normal motions and mobility of
the TMJ and jaw can be done through gentle hands on techniques either outside of the
mouth or sometimes from inside the mouth.
Strengthening Exercises: Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the jaw and neck
can be very helpful in reducing symptoms of TMD, improving jaw range of motion, and
reducing the likelihood of recurrence.
Dry needling, ultrasound, electrical stimulation: Your therapist may choose to apply
these modalities to manage your pain and inflammation
Whenever possible a conservative approach is a good first step to addressing
symptoms of TMD. If conservative treatments like physical therapy have not been
successful, it may be time to talk with your doctor or dentist about treatment options
like oral splints or night guards, botox injections, medication management and as a last
resort, surgical intervention. If you have been dealing with pain or discomfort in the
TMJ this article should help you understand more about your condition and give you an
idea of first steps you can take on the road to improving your symptoms.
Click here for more information about our TMJ physical therapy services.

3. 0 Likes
Newer Post
MSK Physical Therapy Services
Older Post
Do You Have Issues in Your Soft
Tissues?
EVO LVE PHY SICAL THER APY, 3 3 1 9 AVENU E N, B R O O KLY N, NY, 1 1 23 4 (71 8) 524 -3 91 5 F R O NTD ESK@EVO LVENY.CO M
REQUEST APPOINTMENT!
About EvolveNY-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical
Therapy Clinics- There’s physical therapy,
there’s training, and then there’s
EVOLVE. We use the science of
biomechanics merged with fitness to
help our patients get better and stay
better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we
strengthen our clients so they can reach
their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core
techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance
physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
Multiple Locations!
1-718-524-3915
https://EvolveNY.com
  Share
Call Us Today
718-524-3915
C O NTA C T P R IVA C Y P O L IC Y TER M S O F US E S ITEM A P C A R EER S EM P L OYEE L O GIN