Stress and TMJ

You might be more prone to stress due to life experiences or genetics, but all of us will experience severe anxiety at some point in our lives. It is a natural part of the human condition, and you should not let it get the better of you, but sometimes, when stress is allowed to go overboard, extreme problems can occur with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint connects the lower jaw to the skull, so it serves a vital function in your ability to chew or talk, and our TMJ dentist has found that many people who display the symptoms of TMJ also suffer from severe stress.

Anxiety can cause you to grind your teeth, which result in wear on the teeth and the joints that control your jaw. Too much wear can lead to the symptoms of TMJ such as headaches, earaches, shoulder aches, pain when chewing, and popping or clicking sounds when you open or close your jaw. These symptoms are not fun, and they can actually cause you to become even more stressed out. However, anxiety is not a direct symptom of the disease. Rather, it is a secondary symptom that comes with having to live with the burdens of TMJ.

To learn how to control your stress and your TMJ, talk to our expert in TMJ in Los Angeles.