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Suffering TMJ Flare-Ups & Don’t Know Why? Here are 9 Possible Causes!

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Ever had your jaw pop, ache, or feel weirdly stiff when you are just trying to chew or talk? That might be your TMJ acting up. It is tricky to figure out what causes the TMJ of the jaw to act up in the first place. Sure, clenching and grinding are well-known culprits. Still, there are actually a bunch of sneaky triggers that many people don’t know about.

9 Not-So-Common Causes of TMJ

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It’s the little hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When it’s unhappy, you’ll know. And if you are dealing with pain that just won’t quit, it is worth looking into what causes TMJ flare-ups. Let’s dig into a few unexpected things that could be the reason for your suffering.

Stress. Yes, it Shows Up in Your Jaw

You may believe that stress only affects your mind, but it also affects your body. One typical location? Your jaw. It’s normal to clench your teeth under stress without even recognizing it. Some grind their teeth as they sleep, while others grind them continuously.

Your jaw muscles and the joint itself are under pressure from this ongoing stress. It can be the primary cause of your jaw pain if you often feel it after a difficult day.

Your Posture Might Be Messing With You

Most of us spend hours every day hunched over screens. Your phones, laptops, or tablets pull your heads forward without you realizing it. This forward head posture messes with the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Eventually, your jaw gets dragged into the mess, too.

In fact, there is growing research showing that TMJ and forward head posture are closely linked. So, your head and neck alignment could be a direct cause of TMJ pain.

The Way You Eat

Is chewing gum, biting your nails, taking big bites of food, or chomping on ice one of your daily habits? All of these strain your jaw. And if you tend to chew more on one side than the other, that uneven pressure adds up fast.

These little habits might not seem like a big deal. But over time, they can lead to inflammation and irritation in the jaw joint.

Some Medications Can Trigger it

Certain medications can worsen the situation. Muscle stiffness or jaw clenching are adverse effects of some stimulants and antidepressants. The medicine may raise the likelihood of tension or grinding even if it isn’t directly causing TMJ symptoms.

Request your doctor to investigate the connection if your jaw starts acting strangely after taking a new medication.

Clenching and Grinding (Even if You Don’t Notice)

If you ask an expert what the most common cause of TMJ is, they will probably reply that it is the clenching and grinding of teeth and jaw. A lot of people clench their jaws when they are focused, stressed, or even just watching TV. Grinding your teeth, especially at night, wears down both your teeth and your TMJ. And you might not even know you are doing it.

Clenching puts constant pressure on the joint, which over time leads to pain, clicking, or stiffness.

Chewy or Hard Foods

Hard foods such as tough steak, crusty bread, sticky candies, and raw veggies take more effort to chew. That extra effort can overwork your TMJ.

If you are in the middle of a flare-up, it’s best to stick with softer meals until things calm down. Your jaw is just like any other joint. Overuse it, and it pushes back.

Dehydration

Water might not seem like it has anything to do with jaw pain, but think again. Muscles and joints need hydration to function well. When you are dehydrated, everything tightens up, including the muscles around your jaw.

So if you are not drinking enough water during the day, your TMJ could be feeling the effects.

Bad Sleep Habits

One of those subtle causes of TMJ that you are unaware of until your body begins to complain is poor sleeping posture. Overnight jaw strain can result from sleeping face down with your head tilted or awkwardly supported up.

When grinding is included, the combination is ideal. It might be time to reconsider your sleeping habits and possibly get a new pillow if you frequently wake up with a painful jaw.

Overuse of Jaw Muscles

Are you a teacher, singer, public speaker, or in any other profession where you need to converse a lot? If so, know that you use your jaw muscles more than others. Over time, the joint may become worn out by that continuous motion, particularly if you don’t get much sleep.

If the joint is already sensitive, even something as basic as laughing aloud or yawning excessively can irritate it.

So, now you know what the causes of TMJ disorder are. Honestly, it’s hard to pin it on just one thing. For some people, it’s stress. Others? Bad posture or poor sleep. And a lot of times, it’s a combo of small habits piling up over time.

The key is to be aware of what might be triggering your jaw pain and take steps to change those habits where you can. Pay attention to posture, manage stress, stay hydrated, and take it easy on your jaw when it’s feeling off.

Still, if things aren’t improving, talk to a dental professional. They can help you get to the root cause of your TMJ and build a plan that works.