I suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which basically means that, at the point where my jaw joins with my skull, I experience slight pain every so often. When I overuse my jaw, by chewing too vigorously for instance, my jaw feels tighter and restricted. Fortunately, the disorder is usually very easily remedied, and often gets better with time. When my jaw hurts, I usually take a pain killer and try not to eat as many tough foods like steak and beef. TMJ is quite common, and my dentists in Halifax say that around 1 in 12 people suffer from the condition.

I clench my jaw and tend to grind my teeth when I sleep, things which contribute to my TMJ my dentist said. Apparently, the muscles around the joint between the jaw and skull are where the problem lies. In more severe cases of TMJ, which are relatively rare, physiotherapy is used in the form of gentle jaw movement exercises to lessen the symptoms and ease up the joint. My dentist diagnosed my TMJ from the symptoms I described, but other more complex methods such as MRI scans can be used if necessary, so don’t be surprised if your dentist wants you to have one. If the TMJ is truly severe, there are surgical options available to you, but, as with mine, the disorder tends to be minor, and something you can easily just get on with.