THE ESSENTIAL
- Up to a third of adults suffer from temporomandibular disorders, often confused with ordinary migraines.
- These disorders, linked to the jaw and caused by stress or bruxism, cause pain, headaches and multiple tensions.
- Once the diagnosis is made, several measures can relieve the symptoms: stress reduction, relaxation, improved sleep, taking analgesic medications.
On average, 34% of adults are affected by a temporomandibular disorder, according to a study published in the journal Journal of Clinical Medicine. The prevalence is high but diagnosis can take a long time. The cause is non-specific symptoms little known to the general public, which are more reminiscent of ordinary migraines.
Migraine is the first symptom of temporomandibular disorder
Temporomandibular disorders affect the jaw joints, specifically between the top and bottom. They allow movement and are therefore in high demand throughout the day. “We use the masticatory apparatus not only to chew and swallow, but also to speak, breathe and express our emotions, details Ralf Bürgers, clinical director at the Center for Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine at the University of Göttingen in Germany, to the German media The world. Not to mention bruxism, which consists of grinding your teeth without actually having anything to chew. This generates a lot of stress, which can lead to these disorders.”
Temporomandibular disorders can be linked to different causes: trauma or arthritis of the jaw, poor dental occlusion, tension in the jaw linked to stress… Depending on the Cleveland Cliniccertain habits can also constitute risk factors. These include chewing your pens or chewing gum, biting your nails, taking too big bites when eating, clenching your teeth or even sleeping on your stomach, which a priori has nothing to do with the jaw but is linked.
Same for the main symptom, which also has nothing to do with teeth: patients with temporomandibular disorders generally suffer from migraines chronic, which do not respond to usual medical treatments. “When your dentist asks you about changes to your mouth or health, you shouldn’t just think about your teeth, advises Dr. Gary D. Klasser, in an article in MSD Manual. You may discuss headaches, jaw pain, and other symptoms that could be related to temporomandibular disorder”.
Reduce stress to relieve symptoms
The Mayo Clinic listed other symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. In addition to migraine and jaw pain, there are several others:
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing;
- Pain in one or both temporomandibular joints;
- Blockage of the temporomandibular joint, making it difficult to open or close the mouth;
- Dental pain accompanying jaw sensitivity;
- Neck pain;
- Eye pain;
- Pain in and around the ear;
- Facial pain.
“There is no biomarker to detect the presence of temporomandibular disorders, continues Dr. Gary D. Klasser. Doctors usually diagnose them by asking patients about their medical history and performing a physical examination. Sometimes they perform imaging tests.” Once the diagnosis is made, several measures can relieve the symptoms.
Sometimes, simply realizing the root of the problem allows patients to correct it on their own. They can also implement relaxation techniques to reduce stress and improve sleep. According to the National Health Service (NHS), the public health system of the United Kingdom, the general practitioner can also prescribe analgesic medications and/or refer you to a specialist depending on the origin of the disorder: dentist for bruxism, psychologist for stress and anxiety, physiotherapist to work on the jaw.
