One of the greatest difficulties in dealing with temporomandibular disorders (TMD, historically known as TMJ) is that its symptoms can be highly varied and disparate. Initial symptoms may be minor and may seem insignificant. The case may be far advanced when symptoms are severe enough to drive people to treatment. With symptoms that can appear far away from the jaw joint and may not seem connected, people often spend months seeing numerous specialists trying to diagnose their condition. 

Recognizing the early signs of TMD can help you start home care to slow the development of the condition. It will also encourage you to seek professional help early for effective, non-invasive treatment.

Jaw Pain

Jaw pain is the most common symptom of TMD. There are several types of jaw pain related to TMD. Your TMD-related pain might be:

  • Dull and achy
  • Sharp and electric
  • Acute
  • Persistent

In addition, TMD pain can vary from mild to severe, and the degree of pain does not necessarily relate to the severity of your TMD. 

Jaw pain can also come from different sources. It can come from sore muscles, pinched nerves, pressured joints, and teeth, or it can be referred to as pain from somewhere else. Tracking down the source of your jaw pain is its own challenge.

Jaw Sounds

Jaw sounds are common in TMD. The nature of the sound you hear depends on the type of TMD and its degree. 

You might hear a soft groan if the joint is just stressed. 

More often, people hear a popping or clicking sound in their joints. We have two temporomandibular joints, one on each side, and they can experience dysfunction together or separately. The popping or clicking sounds occur when the cartilage disc–a pad between the mandible and the temporal bone–slips into and out of place. Your jaw might also make a sudden jump at that point. 

Eventually, the disc stops slipping in and just stays out. When this happens, the bones of the joint grind against each other, making a creaking or scratching sound known as crepitus. If you haven’t sought professional care by that point, you absolutely need to.

Limited Jaw Opening

People with TMD often experience limited jaw opening. Their joint movement is restricted, or their muscles are so stiff and sore that they can’t fully open their jaw. 

Sometimes, people will get their jaw locked, either open or closed. If this is the case, seek the help of a TMD dentist who can help maneuver the jaw’s parts so it will open and close again. Don’t try to force your jaw open or closed–this can cause serious injury, even though you may not immediately notice the damage.

Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common signs of TMD. The most straightforward cause of headaches is sore jaw muscles, which stretch up along the sides of the head. TMD can wear these muscles out, and you might feel pain in them or the muscles they partner with. 

TMD can also affect your migraines. People with migraines often see an increase in the frequency and severity of attacks when they develop TMD. People may also develop migraines as a result of TMD.

Neck Pain

Your jaw muscles partner with your neck muscles to support the head. As the jaw muscles get strained by TMD, they can pull your head and neck out of balance. This can stress neck muscles and lead to pressured nerves in the neck. In addition, stress from the jaw muscles can cause maladaptive behaviors that contribute to neck strain.

Ear Symptoms

The ear is not just physically close to the jaw but functionally linked to the jaw. TMD is a jaw dysfunction that causes dysfunction in the ear. Some of the ear symptoms you may notice include:

  • Ear pain
  • Ear stuffiness
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Vertigo or dizziness
  • Hearing loss

In fully developed TMD cases, about four out of five people experience some type of ear symptom. This isn’t usually the first symptom people notice, but it can be the symptom that finally drives people to seek care–it can be very disruptive, and other doctors often can’t figure out the source of the symptoms.

How to Care for TMD at Home

Most cases of TMD are temporary and don’t require professional care. When you start to experience TMD symptoms, you can care for them at home. You can take several simple steps to see if they improve your symptoms. 

Rest Your Jaw

First, try to rest your jaw. Switch to a soft food diet. This doesn’t have to be a liquid diet, but avoid foods that require extensive chewing or opening your mouth wide. 

Also, reduce other habits that stress your jaw. Talk less. Don’t chew gum. Stop chewing on other objects, too. 

Apply Heat and Cold

Moist heat, like a warm bath or washcloth, can help soothe sore muscles. Since muscle soreness is the most common type of TMD, this is a good place to start. However, heat can worsen inflammation, so apply the hot pack primarily to your muscles. 

An ice pack can also help relieve pain. It targets inflammation, another contributor to jaw pain and dysfunction. Apply the ice pack to any place you feel pain, including the muscles and jaw joint. 

Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

You can also get relief from TMD symptoms by taking over-the-counter pain medication. All the commonly available ones should work for your pain. However, remember never to exceed the dosage on the label unless directed by your doctor.

When to Seek Professional Care

If your case of TMD is short-term, you can manage it fine with home care. However, you should seek professional help if your TMD symptoms:

  • Worsen under home care
  • Persist for more than a week
  • Go away, then return
  • Interfere with daily life
  • Don’t respond to the recommended dosage of pain medication

These are signs that your TMD needs professional care. Attempting to manage these cases with home care can contribute to the degeneration of the jaw system.

Get TMD Treatment in Naples, FL

If your TMD isn’t responding to home care or is too severe for you to function normally, Massa Dental Center is here to help. Schedule an appointment to get an evaluation of your TMD. Many people can experience significant relief during their first appointment–don’t keep putting off professional care. 

Please call (239) 597-7333 or use our online form to request an appointment at Massa Dental Center in Naples, FL.