TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) disorders are a group of problems relating to the joint in the jaw. The muscles and joints work together to help keep your jaw functioning properly, and problems can lead to symptoms like headaches, problems biting, clicking in the jaw, stiffness and others.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction can have close links to teeth grinding, though it can also be related to a number of other conditions:

1) Chewing Gum or Biting Fingernails
2) Stress: This can often lead to nervous energy that releases itself in the form of grinding and clenching the teeth.
3) Dental Problems/ Misalignment: Some people find it hard to find a comfortable bite due to the way that their teeth fit together. Sometimes chewing only on one side of the jaw can lead to these problems, though this can also happen as a result of TMJ.
4) Teeth Grinding: Bruxism is known to cause wear on the cartilage of the TMJ joint. If you grind your teeth you might not even know that you do it until someone lets you know (for example your partner sees you in your sleep, and dentists might notice wear). You might also wake up with pain in the joint or ear.
5) Jaw Trauma: If you’ve ever had fractures in the jaw or bones of the face then this could also lead to TMJ.
6) Holding Phones: Sometimes if you work in a job where you commonly need to hold the phone between your head and shoulders, this could cause TMJ to develop.

If you are experiencing temporomandibular joint dysfunction as a result of grinding your teeth then it’s important to get to the root cause rather than just treating the symptoms. So far, the best guide I’ve come across on the matter is “Save Your Smile, Stop Grinding”. Take a look by clicking here.