Roughly sixty million Americans have been diagnosed with TMJ syndrome. For that reason it is a commonly heard term, but not many people know what it is and how it can be treated. The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a joint that attaches the lower jaw to your skull. Symptoms such as frequent headaches or a popping sound coming from the jaw may be a result of the TMJ not functioning properly. This could be due to one or more of the following having been adversely affected: your chewing muscles, joints, ligaments or surrounding bones. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of one’s TMJ syndrome. It may be the result of a traumatic accident or a disease such as arthritis.

The most common causes, however, are clenching and grinding of one’s teeth, which can tire and strain the chewing muscles, causing them to go into spasm and cause pain. An improper bite can also result in TMJ dysfunction. Among the symptoms are: headaches (usually upon awakening), tenderness or fatigue of the jaw muscles, earaches, and pain or difficulty when chewing, yawning or opening wide. Clicking or popping sounds are very common signs, and in some extreme cases the jaw can actually get stuck in the open or closed position.