Do you have persistent jaw pain, and you can’t figure out why? If you have a jaw that feels constantly sore or stiff, you may have a condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. This term actually refers to a group of disorders of the joints of the jaw, which can result in muscle pain, headaches, ear aches, and clicking or grating noises. The temporomandibular joint is a complex ball-and-socket formation; you can feel it on either side of your face, directly in front of your ears. If you press your fingers down, you will feel a triangular shape which moves when you open and close your mouth. This is the most often used joint in the body, so it is subject to constant movement and stress. Overuse and strain on the muscles can cause soreness, discomfort and pain. Joint irritation and damage can be diagnosed via a physical exam or an MRI (most often used to detect soft-tissue damage). If you believe you may have a TMJ disorder, you do not have to endure the discomfort indefinitely. There are simple treatments which can help, and you can learn to prevent the condition from recurring.

How does clenching jaw muscles cause TMJ? When you clench your jaw or grind your teeth (which often occurs without you being aware of it when you are stressed), you can cause strain on the muscles and other soft tissue of your jaw, resulting in facial pain, headaches, and earaches.

What is causing my sore jaw? If you have pain in your jaw, it could be the result of TMJ. Constant gum chewing, hard foods, clenching and grinding of teeth, stress, and even using your head and shoulder to hold onto a phone can over-tax the muscles and bones of your jaw joint, leading to chronic pain.

What are the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder? Signs of TMJ include headaches, facial pain, pain in the ears, and soreness or stiffness of the jaw. You may hear clicking noises when you move your mouth; your jaw may lock open, or you may not be able to open it all the way.

Is a clicking jaw a sign of TMJ? If you hear clicking or grinding when you chew or otherwise open and close your mouth, this can indicate a TMJ disorder. The clicking may or may not be accompanied by pain or stiffness, and you may experience difficulty chewing or yawning.

How can I get rid of the pain of TMJ disorder? In order to successfully treat jaw soreness, you will need to allow your mouth to rest, slightly open, whenever possible to relax the muscles. Ice packs and ibuprofin can help relax the muscles and relieve jaw pain.