Blaming low blood pressure, stress, or ear-related issues for dizziness is very common. Dizziness can be hard to pin down as a symptom. What you may not be aware of is that your jaw (TMJ) may also be connected to this symptom.
TMJ disorder (TMJ) is associated with dizziness, and the connection is actually more significant than many think. This blog will help you understand this connection better. So let’s dive right in.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. The TMJ is one of the most complicated joints in the human body, being used whenever one talks, chews, yawns, or clenches teeth.
As it is located adjacent to the ear along with structures, it can cause problems further than just jaw discomfort.
When TMJ is working poorly, it creates pressure that affects the nearby nerves and muscles. This may create an imbalance that interferes with your body’s ability to process information from your surroundings. This imbalance can interfere with how your body processes spatial awareness and balance, which can lead to dizziness or a lightheaded feeling.
Dizziness due to TMJ problems doesn’t typically feel as if the room is spinning. People often describe it as an off-balanced feeling, a sensation of either floating or swaying, or lightheadedness when they move their head or jaw. Some also experience dizziness with discomfort in their jaw or tension in their face or ear.
The reasons a person feels dizziness from TMJ:
TMJ disorder will often indicate tight jaw & neck muscles. These muscles have an important function concerning maintaining proper posture and stability of the head. Any increase in tension can confuse the signals of impulse that tell us how our body is positioned.
The TMJ also lies near the nerves that connect the ear to the brain. Misaligned jawbones or swollen TMJ will irritate these nerves.
Problems like clenching, grinding, or bite misalignment can alter how the head and neck are held, subtly affecting balance.
Patients suffering from TMJ may develop a pressure-like feeling in the ear. They can also feel a ringing in the ear and are light-headed.
Jaw (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction can lead to symptoms of dizziness and light-headedness when occurring with the following symptoms:
By understanding the relationship between jaw function and dizziness, it is important to recognize that only treating the symptoms will not fix the problem when the issue lies with the mechanics of the jaw.
A TMJ evaluation includes evaluating the way your jaw functions, teeth fit together, and muscle tension influences the way you use your jaw and bite. The evaluation will help identify the major factor in the occurrence of dizziness related to TMJ. By correcting the mechanics, many cases of dizziness associated with TMJ dysfunction can be lessened or eliminated.
If you have repetitive dizzy spells and are also experiencing discomfort in your jaw, tension in your face, or problems with bite alignment, it could indicate that you may have a TMJ disorder. Dr. Luis can identify if there’s a link between your jaw and the dizziness you have been experiencing. His diagnosis is focused on identifying and treating TMJ issues. It should help determine if there are mechanical issues related to the TMx that are contributing to dizziness, tinnitus, and facial pain.
By examining the relationship between mechanical issues related to the TMJ and your symptoms of dizziness, Dr. Luis can provide you with treatment that offers a lasting relief.