Symptoms and Complications
There is an easy test you can do yourself to check whether you're able to open your jaw as much as you should. Most people can place the tips of their index, middle, and ring fingers held vertically in the space between the upper and lower front teeth without forcing. If your space is smaller, or if you experience pain or a clicking or grinding noise when you try to open your mouth this far, you probably have TMJ problems.
Common symptoms of TMJ problems include:
- a clicking sound or grating sensation on opening the mouth or chewing
- dull aching pain in front of the ear
- headaches that don't respond to the usual medical treatment
- locking of the joint, making it difficult to open
- tenderness of the jaw muscles
The pain will often occur only on one side of the face, and sometimes the pain may seem to occur near the joint rather than in it. Pain and muscle tightness may be present after waking up in the morning or during and after stressful periods. These symptoms result from muscle spasms brought on by repeated muscle or tooth clenching and tooth grinding. Many people grind their teeth during their sleep and aren't even aware of it, and clenching and grinding is more forceful when a person is asleep than when they are awake.