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Common Symptoms of TMD
Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) may vary quite extensively from person to person. They traditionally fall within one of seven areas: teeth and/or gums, head, ears, throat, eyes, face / jaw, neck and shoulder. It is important to note that the presence of one symptom does not necessarily mean that TMD is involved. Traditionally, TMD would present with a number of different symptoms concurrently. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms and would like to know if TMD could be the cause, we suggest a consultation with Dr. Nguyen to assess the symptoms and their possible causes.
Teeth and Gums
- Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet stimulus
- Significant pain in one or more teeth
- Uncontrolled clenching of the jaw
- Bruxism (grinding of the teeth at night)
- Significant grinding or wear on the edges of your teeth
- Inconsistent wear on the teeth
- Unexplained shifting of teeth that create spaces or crowding
Head
- Sharp pain in the forehead
- Pain that resembles “sinus” headaches
- Excruciating headaches with a quick onset (symptoms resembling a cluster headache)
- Recurrent migraines
- Sensitivity of the scalp to even the lightest touch
Ears
- Continuous buzzing or ringing in the ears
- Dizziness or problems with balance
- Pain normally associated with an ear infection (even when there is no infection present)
- Reduced hearing acuity
- The sensation that the ears are “clogged” or that sounds are muffled
Throat
- Pain in the tongue
- Diminished ability to vocalize
- Recurrent sore throats
- Difficulty and pain when swallowing
- General sensitivity and tightness of throat
Eyes
- Overly reactive tear ducts – constant watering eyes
- Frequent episodes of blurred or fuzzy vision
- Repeated and seemingly random instances of pain in or around the eye (especially behind the eye)
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Chronically irritated or bloodshot eyes
- Recurring pressure behind the eyes
Face / Jaw
- A sudden and substantial difference in the way that the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Facial muscles that feel tight and stiff when you wake up or after speaking for a while
- Sore cheek muscles
- Spastic and involuntary jaw movements
- Distinct popping or clicking noise when chewing or yawning
- Inability to move the jaw from side to side
- Difficulty controlling tongue movements
- Limited opening range of the jaw
- Significant lateral movement when trying to open and/or close the jaw
- Difficulty opening or closing the jaw smoothly
- Continuous pain in the jaw joint
Neck and Shoulder
- Pain or stiffness of the neck or shoulders
- Reduced mobility of neck
- Throbbing aches within the shoulders
- Recurrent back pain (both upper and lower)
- Tingling or numbness in fingers or arms