TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. This joint is located connecting the upper jaw (also known as the temporal bone or maxilla) and the lower jaw (also known as the mandible). It basically then is what connects the whole jaw to the skull. There can be problems related to this jaw joint referred to as the temporomandibular joint syndrome or TMJ disorders. Because of regular use for chewing and talking, the TMJ can experience wear and tear just like any other mechanism and part of the body. Sometimes a strong blow to the jaw can result in TMJ too.

TMJ pain symptoms are either indirect or direct. The first direct symptom is the hearing of clicking sounds when the mouth is opened or closed and it is the most common symptom. The clicking sound may be a popping or a snapping that could be loud enough; it can be heard by other people around. There may be pain that accompanies this clicking but with or without the pain, it signals that the TMJ has a displaced disc or that it is irritated or inflamed. The next sign of TMJ is the locking jaw symptom when the jaw gets locked during opening or closing. Another direct TMJ sign is an alteration in the person’s bite. Once again, as the TMJ becomes displaced, the teeth do not line up properly and the bite or the dental occlusion is not aligned.

Fixing the symptoms however is not usually the best bet and natural remedies such as TMJ No More attack the causes of the pain

Indirect symptoms for TMJ may be as follows: persistent headaches, dizziness, photophobia, hearing problems, stuffiness in the nose or sinus area, sensitive teeth, pain in the neck, shoulders and back, tenderness of the face muscles upon awakening, and even depression. A TMJ headache will usually be felt round the temples, the back of the head and the shoulders. The displaced disc in the TMJ causes pain that usually centralizes itself in these areas. Your sense of balance my be impaired and you might get dizzy because an inflamed TMJ will effect your inner ear. TMJ can also cause light sensitivity because it produces pain behind the eye. Eye twitching and blurred vision can also be taken as TMJ symptoms in addition to this.

Because the TM joint is located near the ears, anything problem with the TMJ affects the ears. An extreme case can sometimes result in loss of hearing but more commonly it will be ringing in the ears. Stuffiness and congestion in the nose is also a significant TMJ symptom. If someone is clenching or grinding their teeth during the night neck pain and tender facial muscles can result. All are a result of teeth grinding and clenching during the night. The person experiencing TMJ may be depressed because of sleep deprivation and continual pain.

Surgery isn’t always the best option for TMJ sufferers and books like TMJ No More are often better solutions to the underlying problem.