Posted 4:07 PM by Bonnie

TMJ!

How Does TMJ Work?
When you bite down hard, you put force on the object between your teeth and on the joint. In terms of physics, the jaw is the lever and the TMJ is the fulcrum. Actually, more force is applied (per square foot) to the joint surface than to whatever is between your teeth. To accommodate such forces and to prevent too much wear and tear, the cartilage between the mandible and skull normally provides a smooth surface, over which the joint can freely slide with minimal friction.

Therefore, the forces of chewing can be distributed over a wider surface in the joint space and minimize the risk of injury. In addition, several muscles contribute to opening and closing the jaw and aid in the function of the TMJ.

Symptoms:
Ear pain
Sore jaw muscles
Temple/cheek pain
Jaw popping/clicking
Locking of the jaw
Difficulty in opening the mouth fully
Frequent head/neck aches

I should have seen it coming! I had an earache a few days ago and have been suffering some bad headaches the past few days. I've had this before. I know the symptons yet still I didn't think about it until today when I woke up with a painful jaw! It took me 3 hours to eat a bowl of oatmeal! So, of course, I am not speaking to anyone. Not that I don't want to, just that it's too painful. So, if you call me and I don't call back or say I can't talk now it's because you're giving me a pain in the..... jaw ... well, maybe some place else too, but mainly in the jaw.