Signs and symptoms
... Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include: Inability to chew certain foods, or eating only a soft diet Facial pain Tenderness of your jaw Aching pain in and around your ear A clicking sound or g...

Causes
... Tenderness and pain originating in the TMJ can stem from a variety of causes. Like other joints, the TMJ is susceptible to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammation. Normall...

Risk factors
... Stress can be a factor in TMJ disorders. Chronic tension and anxiety may cause you to keep your jaws clenched, overusing the muscles attached to the temporal bone that stabilize the temporomandibular ...

When to seek medical advice
... If you have persistent pain or tenderness in your temporomandibular joint, if you have facial pain and experience clicking or grating when you chew or move your jaw, or if you can''t open or close you...

Screening and diagnosis
... Your doctor, dentist, TMJ specialist, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon can discuss your signs and symptoms with you, how long you''ve experienced them, whether you''ve had an injury to your jaw, and ...