Causes of TMJ disorders
Causes are often complex and difficult to identify. Most TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are believed to result from several factors acting together including:
- trauma to the head or neck, such as a fall, whiplash injury, blow to the head or neck and motor vehicle accidents (any of the above could have happened many years prior to symptoms becoming apparent)
- tooth clenching and/or grinding, also known as bruxism, (while not scientifically proven to cause TMJ symptoms, these need to be controlled to reduce and manage TMJ disorders)
- head and neck muscle tension
- arthritic joint diseases
- excessive jaw activity such as chewing hard foods, lengthy dental procedures, talking too much, yawning too widely (not a cause but also can contribute to increased symptoms such as pain and limited opening)