TL;DR
TMJ flare-ups can be painful and disruptive, often caused by stress, poor posture, or diet. Identifying triggers and managing symptoms early is key. TMJ symptoms vary but often include jaw pain, headaches, and ear discomfort.
- Common triggers: stress, hard foods, dehydration, posture
- Symptoms: jaw pain, headaches, earaches, lockjaw
- Solutions: stress relief, soft foods, better posture, medical care
As many as 12% of people deal with TMJ every single day. If you experience any sort of chronic pain, you know how it can become a drain on your life.
Your temporomandibular joint works overtime — you use it when you’re eating breakfast, chatting with coworkers, or even just yawning during your morning commute.
When TMJ issues strike, they don’t just hurt at the moment. The discomfort lingers because your jaw never really gets a break. You’re constantly moving it throughout the day without even thinking about it.
So, what causes TMJ to flare up? Understanding your triggers can help you tackle that sharp, shooting pain before it takes over your entire day.
The good news is that with proper care, you can decrease the intensity of your TMJ flare ups, as well as reduce their duration. With luck, you may even be able to avoid them altogether.
TMJ Flare Up Symptoms
Typically, a TMJ flare up is when you encounter new symptoms or your TMJ pain suddenly increases in severity.
Common symptoms of TMJ flare ups include:
- Jaw joint pain that’s constant or comes and goes
- General jaw discomfort throughout the day
- Frequent headaches that throb or pierce
- Clicking or popping sounds when you open your mouth, eat, or talk
- Ear pain ranging from sharp, stabbing sensations to dull aches
- Neck and shoulder pain that radiates from your jaw area
- Tinnitus or ringing in your ears
- Muscle spasms that may cause eye, cheek, or neck twitching
- Facial swelling around the TMJ area
- Jaw tightness that limits your range of motion
- Lock jaw where your jaw gets stuck until a professional realigns the joint
TMJ Flare Ups Causes
While TMJ pain can strike at any time, what causes TMJ to flare up is as varied as the people that have it. The causes of TMJ pain themselves may also affect the duration and intensity of a TMJ flare up, so be sure to avoid your known triggers if you’ve been living with TMJ pain for a period of time.
Here are some things that make TMJ worse:
- Stress that leads to jaw clenching or teeth grinding while you’re asleep or awake
- Hormonal changes from birth control, supplements, or natural fluctuations
- Hard and chewy foods like apples, bagels, gummies, and nuts that strain your TMJ
- Dehydration that reduces joint lubrication in your TMJ
- Poor posture that pushes your lower jaw forward and disrupts normal jaw muscle function
- Weak neck muscles that put extra strain on your TMJ
- Certain medications that promote grinding and clenching behaviors
- Vitamin D deficiency that can trigger muscle pain throughout your jaw area
How to Avoid Triggering a TMJ Flare Up
There are a handful of things you can start doing right now to help reduce TMJ flare ups. Start by cutting back on hard or chewy foods that put a lot of stress on your jaw. These are common triggers that make TMJ worse.
Stress is another factor. We don’t realize it, but during times of stress it creates jaw tension during the day and while you’re sleeping. Focus on breathing and keeping your tongue off the roof of your mouth.
Posture is another important factor. When you’re slouching at a desk all day, it throws off your alignment leading to additional strain on the jaw.
All of these combined make TMJ worse and can lead to more severe pain over time.
Look to The Experts
If you are suffering from debilitating TMJ pain, contact the experts at Raleigh TMJ. We have the resources and the know-how to help you treat and cope with your TMJ flare-ups, and you just might find that over time your TMJ pain has reduced in intensity or duration. Schedule an appointment with a specialist today.
