what is tmj?

Question

my jaw hurts when i open it wide on the right side but its not sowleen or anything.it didn't hurt all day when i was cheerleading, just when i think about it and my mom was like, i hope u don't have tmj,
what is tmj???
is it serious??

Answer 1

the other Answerers have given you good advice. I just want to add information about what you can do to minimize the pain.

To help stop or minimize the pain from TMJ, apply hot towels or a heating pad to the joints at your jaw. Do this for fifteen minutes. Wait ten minutes then ice therapy.

Place clean tap water into a foam cup and place in your freezer until it is completely frozen. Peel back a small amount of the top of the cup and massage this onto area of pain using constant circular motion. DO NOT hold the ice in one area for more than 3 minutes since this may cause frostbite. Cold therapy should be stopped once the skin feels numb.

Take Advil three times daily. Do not chew gum, eat hard foods, as this will aggravate the joint.

Answer 2

Well it depends on how old you are or if you have braces or not. If you do have braces, it most likely from those because they are moving your teeth around.

It is the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ), the joint where the mandible (the lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. A small disc of cartilage separates the bones, much like in the knee joint, so that the mandible may slide easily; each time you chew you move it. But you also move it every time you talk and each time you swallow (every three minutes or so). It is, therefore, one of the most frequently used of all joints of the body and one of the most complex.

You can locate this joint by putting your finger on the triangular structure in front of your ear. Then move your finger just slightly forward and press firmly while you open your jaw all the way and shut it. The motion you feel is the TMJ. You can also feel the joint motion in your ear canal.

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

What Can Be Done for TMJ?
Because TMJ symptoms often develop in the head and neck, otolaryngologists are appropriately qualified to diagnose TMJ problems. Proper diagnosis of TMJ begins with a detailed history and physical, including careful assessment of the teeth occlusion and function of the jaw joints and muscles. If the doctor diagnoses your case early, it will probably respond to these simple, self-remedies:

Rest the muscles and joints by eating soft foods.
Do not chew gum.
Avoid clenching or tensing.
Relax muscles with moist heat (1/2 hour at least twice daily).

Answer 3

It is called temporomandibular. I have it too, and it is very commen. It can be very painful. I have had it for over twenty years. It basically affects the jaw to the skull. It can affect your whole face, cause headaches, and other problems. It can also cause dizziness, like it does to me. I also have neck issues with it. Usually it comes from grinding your teeth. That is what I do, but I also was told wearing braces on my teeth caused it. To help relieve it, I take Advil, eat soft foods, apply heat, and massage the area. Once in a while, I will add a muscle relaxer which can help too. You should see your doctor. As far as being serious, your jaw can lock, but not permanently. The main thing is the pain. Please see a doctor though, so they can evaluate it, and maybe give you some stronger medication to help you while it is flared up.