Do I Have TMD?

Do you ever have pain around your ear or lower jaw when you’re inflating a balloon, chewing toffee, drinking through a straw or just talking?  These are symptoms that you could be suffering from TMD (temporomandibular disorder).

TMD is often mistakenly called TMJ. TMJ is the name of the joint that is having the problem. So you have a TMD to your TMJ. What’s the TMJ then, well it’s the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This joint is responsible for up and down and side-to-side jaw movement. When this joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to TMD.

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Top Six Symptoms of TMD

1. Pain and tenderness of your jaw or joints when eating, talking, and/or
2. Difficulty chewing or pain when chewing
3. A clicking or grinding sound when opening or closing your mouth
4. Locking of the joint causing a problem to close or open your mouth
5. Aching pain in and around your ear or through your whole face
6. Headache or neck pain radiating from the jaw

How Can TMD affect me?

• Reduction in sleep
• Limits eating certain foods
• Difficult to talk
• Constant facial discomfort

How Can I Find Out?

Your Dentist can examine your jaw, ask about your medical and dental history and perform tests including x-rays to determine whether or not you have TMD. There are other possible causes of facial and jaw pain so you need to see a medical professional to ensure that you’re receiving the correct treatment.

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