TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint which is the hinge-like joint that connects your jaw to your skull. You have two of them that work together. Muscles in your face control the jaw joints. The way wheels move a car, the muscles move the jaws in three directions – up and down, side to side, back and forward – so you can talk, chew and yawn.
There are three elements that control the way your mouth operates – the jaw joints, the facial muscles and the teeth. If you overstress any one of these three elements, then you can have problems and symptoms. These painful conditions are called temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD.
In some people, night-time clenching and grinding is linked to sleep apnoea. This means that those with a long-standing teeth grinding or clenching habit should consider a sleep study to assess for obstructive sleep apnoea, as this condition has far-ranging health consequences. Your dentist can help guide you through this process.
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