What is jaw hinge pain?
Jaw hinge pain, often called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, often begins as a minor discomfort but can lead to more serious complications if left untreated. Jaw hinge pain refers to the inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects the mandible to the skull.
Pain caused by this inflammation often results in discomfort/pain while chewing, talking, and can lead to more serious complications like migraines, earaches and even dizziness. Jaw hinge pain can be treated with medical and surgical procedures, medication, and sometimes physical therapy.
Causes of jaw hinge pain
There are many causes for jaw hinge pain. The repeated over opening of the jaw beyond its normal range may cause jaw hinge pain, as can the repeated sliding of the jaw sideways or forward, such as thrusting the jaw forward excessively when chewing or talking.
Excessive and constant gum chewing has also been known to cause jaw hinge pain, due to the increased and constant repetitive movement of the jaw when chewing gum. Other people have experienced jaw hinge pain due to degenerative joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of jaw hinge pain
Jaw hinge pain can take many different forms. The most common symptoms associated with jaw hinge pain are difficulty or discomfort when biting, chewing, talking, and moving the mouth. There may also be a clicking or popping sound when opening or closing the mouth, and the mouth itself may be difficult to properly open or close.
Many jaw hinge pain sufferers experience migraines, pain in the jaw, headaches and earaches along with their jaw discomfort. Chronic suffers of jaw hinge pain may begin to experience neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, dizziness and nausea, as well as hearing difficulties or hearing loss. The more severe the jaw hinge pain, the more severe the symptoms are likely to be.
Prevention and treatment of jaw hinge pain
Practicing proper chewing habits, taking care not to grind or clench your teeth, avoiding excessive jaw use (such as constant gum chewing or thrusting the jaw forward when chewing or speaking) may help to prevent jaw hinge pain.
However, should you begin to experience jaw hinge pain, there are several treatments which are likely to help ease or even remove your symptoms. You should seek medical relief for any jaw hinge pain which interferes with your daily life—sleeping, eating, breathing, etc.
Splints, or night guards/mouth guards, may be used to reduce teeth grinding and teeth clenching in some people who experience jaw hinge pain. However, some people find that a splint only increases their pain, so this option should be carefully monitored for success. Pain relief is another treatment for jaw hinge pain.
Some people find that conventional painkillers (such as acetaminophen) provide relief for their jaw hinge pain, while others do not find relief when using these drugs. An alternative pain relief approach involves low doses of antidepressants that have anti-muscarinic properties, which can help relax the jaw and relieve symptoms.