TMJ

For years, I woke up every morning with my jaw locked tight, a painful reminder of the relentless grip of my temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

It wasn’t just the stiffness that got to me—it was the dull ache radiating from my jaw to my temples and even down my neck. As if that wasn’t enough, headaches and restless nights became the norm. At one point, I even wondered if this pain was something I’d just have to live with forever.

I learned that many TMDs, thankfully, resolve on their own. But in my case, it felt like I’d drawn the short straw. The problem became chronic, and no amount of mouth guards, over-the-counter painkillers, or professional consultations seemed to help.

Today, many people are suffering from TMJ. This can be caused by teeth grinding or jaw clenching during sleep.

Can TMJ cause throat problems? Yes, it can. Here’s why:

1. Muscle Tightness: The muscles around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can get tight and cause throat issues. For example, the medial pterygoid muscle can make you feel like something is stuck in your throat when it’s tight and spasming. This muscle tension can also put pressure on the TMJ, making the problem worse.
2. Swallowing Difficulties: The anterior digastric muscles on the lower jaw can affect swallowing. When these muscles are tight, they can make it hard to swallow properly. They might also move the hyoid bone, which can lead to swallowing troubles.
3. Joint Displacement: The TMJ has a soft disc that helps it move smoothly. If this disc gets out of place, it can cause pain and other issues. Plus, when the TMJ isn’t working right, it can make nearby muscles tense up, which can spread to the throat area and cause soreness and ear pain.

Overall, TMJ problems can affect various parts of your body, including your throat. So, if you have persistent throat symptoms, it’s essential to consider TMJ as a possible cause.

When you have a problem with your jaw called TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), it can sometimes cause numbness in your lips and other parts of your body. This might happen because the muscles in your face get tight and squeeze on other nerves, making them feel numb.

Usually, when your jaw puts pressure on a nerve called the trigeminal nerve, which helps you feel things on your face, you might feel numbness. This can make parts of your face, like your lips, feel like they have lost their feeling.

Suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, otherwise known as TMJ, can be a difficult burden to bear.

The constant, painful clicking and locking of the jaw as you try to open it can make it almost impossible to eat normally, or even speak without wincing in discomfort.

I am going to show you how I manage my TMJ joints and what has helped me most in the past.

If you are looking for some relief from this condition, then this is the blog post for you!  

For years, I have been suffering from a severe case of temporomandibular joint disorder.

It was at its worst when I woke up in the morning, and my jaw would be locked shut from clenching it during sleep.