{"id":4740,"date":"2021-04-26T15:32:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T19:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/?p=4740"},"modified":"2021-04-26T15:33:09","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T19:33:09","slug":"tmj-causes-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/tmj-causes-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Temporomandibular joint disorders: TMJ symptoms and treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Cat got your tongue? Or is it just that your jaw joint hurts so much you aren\u2019t feeling very chatty?<\/span><\/p>\n

Approximately <\/span>12% of people in the US<\/span><\/a> are dealing with temporomandibular joint disorders at any one time. That mouthful of a term refers to the joint that makes it possible for you to eat, drink, and speak. Thankfully, most problems with this joint are temporary, but that may be only a small comfort when you\u2019re in the midst of the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is TMJ?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Have you ever seen one of those singing and dancing skeletons at Halloween? Then you\u2019ve already seen the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in action. We all have two of these joints, one on either side of the head. They are located where the mandible (jawbone) meets the temporal bones of the skull, which are located around and in front of your ears. This is where that ridiculously long name comes from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

It is a synovial joint, which means that it has synovial fluid to cushion movement. It is also a double joint, which means there are two separate synovial cavities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The TMJ allows for movement side-to-side, forward and back, as well as hinging up and down.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorders?<\/span><\/h2>\n

People with TMJ disorders (TMD) may experience a number of symptoms including:<\/span><\/p>\n