Stress affects just about every area of our bodies—not only our mental state. The jaw is also impacted by stress.
If you have been experiencing pain, discomfort opening your mouth normally/comfortably or tension when you eat or speak as a result of your stress, that could indicate that there is an underlying issue at the level of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). There is a relationship between stress and TMJ dysfunction. It can be linked together through habits and muscle activity that increase the forces that are being placed on the TMJ. This is significant because understanding this will assist you in finding ways to relieve symptoms.
Muscle tension is a normal bodily response to anxiety. This muscle tension is generally felt in the muscles of the jaw, neck, and face.
There are many common habits that people develop due to stress that are associated with the TMJ:
These habits create a cumulative overload on the muscles that are located around or support the jaw joint. This can lead to an exacerbation of pre-existing symptoms of TMJ.
Individuals who suffer from TMJ disorder often experience episodes where their symptoms flare up rapidly. Stress can be one of the main reasons they flare up.
Extended tension in jaw muscles can lead to functional issues, including:
There can be differences in the symptoms people experience. However, during times of extreme stress there is typically an increase in discomfort associated with jaw problems.
The connection between stress and TMJ dysfunction is highly established. Teeth grinding or clenching, also referred to as bruxism, is one of the most common ways that people contribute to their TMJ problems through stress or anxiety.
You may not even know you are grinding or clenching your teeth while you are sleeping, but many individuals do. Additionally, you may find that you also have the same issue throughout the day in various situations such as when you are working, driving, or concentrating.
The repeated clenching of your jaw creates a large amount of pressure on the jaw’s muscles and joints. This pressure may aggravate TMJ dysfunction or worsen the condition you may already have. That’s why identifying that you have these types of habits is important in understanding what causes your jaw issues.
While decreasing stress can help relieve muscular tension, it does not always address the other mechanical components contributing to TMJ dysfunction.
A complete assessment of TMJ examines three areas:
Once your specialist gains a better understanding in these areas, they can create an ideal personalized treatment plan for you.
Lifestyle modifications that may help promote jaw health include:
Having your jaw continue to have symptoms for an extended period of time, or having them just get worse, and affecting your daily life could be indications that you should find a professional for an evaluation.
TMJ is an umbrella term used to define jaw-related pain. There can be many different factors leading to this pain. It is very important to find the root cause of your symptoms in order to determine what treatments are most appropriate for you.
Stress and anxiety can greatly affect how your jaw joints (TMJ) operate. It can usually result in an increase in the amount of clenching that you do with your teeth, as well as creating muscle tension in your head/neck area. Although in isolation it may not be the only contributing factor causing your TMJ disorder, the stress you are feeling in your life could also lead to the triggering or worsening of your symptoms from it.
If you have noticed increased jaw symptoms that are prevalent during stressful times in your life then a full TMJ assessment is the first step in identifying whether any mechanical factors, muscle habits, or jaw function are contributing to your problem. Therefore Dr. Luis Gavin will take into consideration any of these three things to formulate a custom treatment plan for you that will help regain proper jaw function. Connect to achieve long-term success with managing your symptoms from TMJ disorder.