How Many People Have TMJ Disorder

Your Temporomandibular Joint, known as your TMJ, is the joint that hinges your jaw to your skull. Your TMJ is responsible for all of your mouth movements, from chewing to talking. If your TMJ is in any way impaired, the results are painful and often misdiagnosed. It can be difficult for the cause of TMJ Disorder to be pinpointed since it has a wide variety of symptoms, such as headaches, teeth grinding, “lock jaw,” neck and back pain, as well as many other painful manifestations. Due to the multitude of symptoms, TMJ Disorder can often masquerade as other disorders.

So who is most likely to experience TMJ Disorder? If you answered, “Everyone” then you are close to the truth. Statistically speaking, most people will experience some type of TMJ disorder in their lifetime. In the United States alone, over ten million adults suffer from TMJ Syndrome. TMJ Syndrome can often show up and then correct itself on its own so it is often not even reported. However, some cases are more severe and persistent. If the pain is chronic, you may require medical treatment and you are not alone. More than fifteen percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain. For unknown reasons, ninety percent of patients seeking relief from TMJ Disorder are women in their childbearing years. Why TMJ Disorder is more common in women than men is unknown.

Since the causes of TMJ Disorder are sometimes hard to diagnose it can be beneficial to know what could possibly increase your risk. Clearly your age and your sex can be factors in increasing your risk. If you are a woman between the ages of twenty and fifty, you are statistically at a higher risk for TMJ Syndrome. If you have a habit of grinding your teeth or chewing gum excessively or even biting your nails, you are at a higher risk. Sometimes an injury can cause TMJ Syndrome. If you are in an accident that affects your head or mouth area and then experience chronic pain it could be related to your TMJ. Any activity that causes muscle tension in your jaw or face, such as stress, yawning widely, or sleeping on one side of your face can also increase your risk.

As is illustrated through the above, TMJ disorder is a fickle disorder that can affect you for many reasons, often beyond your control. It is important to know these possible reasons and be aware of your status statistically though. If you are aware of your potential risk then you can be more efficient in pinpointing a diagnosis for your chronic pain. Since TMJ Syndrome can often be overlooked by doctors and be misdiagnosed, arming yourself with knowledge about TMJ Disorders can lead to potential relief more quickly. If you find that you fall into a statistical bracket and your doctor has not offered TMJ Disorder as a possible cause for your pain then you should ask that he or she explore TMJ Syndrome as a potential diagnosis.