If you’re getting headaches, feel soreness when you chew, or hear clicking when you move your jaw, you may be suffering from a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). There are many kinds of TMDs, each with their own causes and symptoms. Knowing how to get the right help for your TMD starts with understanding a bit more about the condition and preparing for a conversation with your doctor. Here are answers to some of the most common questions around TMDs.

What’s the difference between TMJ and TMD?

“TMJ” is often used as shorthand for jaw pain and other issues. But TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. That’s just a body part. Specifically, TMJs are the connections between the temporal bones of the skull and the lower jawbone (mandible).

TMDs, on the other hand, are the issues with the joints, ligaments, tendons, or muscles connecting part of your skull (the temporal bone) to your lower jawbone. TMDs, previously called TMJ disorders, are most common among women in their early 20s and those between the ages of 40 and 50.

What causes TMDs?

Doctors used to believe issues with a person’s bite and how their jaw comes together were a leading cause of TMDs. Today, doctors recognize that’s not often the case. As a result, surgery is less often recommended for TMDs than it once was, but it is still used in some cases.

For most people, TMDs have multiple contributing factors, some of which patients may not even be aware of. Most TMDs have one of two causes. The first is macro trauma—a direct blow to your jaw that leads to pain. The more common cause is micro trauma—a repetitive strain injury that builds up over time. If you clench your jaw when you’re stressed, grind your teeth in your sleep, or chew gum daily, those low-intensity behaviors can add up to a TMD.

Who should I see about my jaw pain or headaches?

Different patients will have different symptoms associated with their TMD. Common TMD symptoms include headaches, soreness in your jaw muscles when you chew, clicking or locking of your jaw, pain near the joint, pain or stiffness in your neck spreading to your arms, dizziness, earaches or stuffiness in your ears, problems sleeping, and difficulty opening your mouth wide. Often, which symptoms a person is experiencing influences what type of healthcare professional they talk to first.  

Orofacial pain is a recognized dental specialty. Even if your family dentist isn’t a specialist in orofacial pain, a conversation with them about the pain you’re experiencing is a good place to start. When your dentist asks about changes in your mouth or health, don’t just think about your teeth. Bring up headaches, jaw pain, and other symptoms that could be connected to a TMD. In some cases, your dentist or family doctor may recommend you see a specialist to address the TMD.

There are no biomarkers for TMDs. Doctors will typically diagnose it by asking about your medical history and doing a physical examination. Sometimes they’ll do imaging tests. The best way to prepare for these conversations is to organize your thoughts to provide honest, accurate information about how and when you’re experiencing pain or other symptoms. The more detail you can provide, the better the doctor will be at diagnosing your issue.

What can I do about my TMD?

Typically, doctors focus on identifying the source of the pain and treating it. It’s important to locate the source of the pain and the true cause, rather than treating the site of the pain. The source of a headache or neck pain may actually be the TMJ. When helping patients navigate pain associated with TMDs, doctors will often recommend a mouth guard and pain medicine. In other cases, doctors will suggest physical therapy and jaw exercises, other medications, and surgery. Another recommendation may be to see a therapist or behavioral health expert to help get stress under control if individuals are clenching their jaw.

Which mouthguard should I get?

A mouthguard is a common tactic for reducing pain from TMDs. There are countless mouthguard options out there. They’re kind of like suits. You can get a suit tailored to your exact sizing and specifications. Or you can buy one off the rack, which probably won’t fit quite as well. In some cases, the poor fit can actually make the TMD pain worse. That’s why many dentists do recommend a custom mouthguard. But you don’t have to start with anything fancy—a simple plastic device that fits well and is comfortable will do the trick.