Is TMJ an Autoimmune Disorder?

Around 10 million Americans struggle with TMJ disorders. TMJ disorders are unfortunately disproportionately more common in women than men, with nine women to every one man experiencing severe jaw pain. 

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), where the jawbone meets the skull on each side, is one of the most used yet misunderstood sets of joints in the human body. The TMJ works like a sliding hinge, facilitating the movements required for chewing and talking. Since the TMJ allows for both up and down plus side-to-side movements, it is an incredibly complex joint, making TMJ disorders challenging to diagnose and treat. For many people, early symptoms of TMJ include:

• Clicking or popping noises when you open and close your mouth
• Ache around your jaw muscles
• Pain or tenderness around the TMJ
• Difficulty chewing
• Lockjaw

What are TMJ Disorders?

TMJ disorders are conditions that affect the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement and fall under the umbrella of temporomandibular disorders (or TMD). 

TMJ disorders fall into three main categories:

1. Myofascial pain, resulting in pain or discomfort in the jaw and corresponding muscles
2. Internal derangement of the jaw joint, for instance, a displaced disc or dislocated jaw
3. Jaw arthritis, a group of degenerative conditions that can affect the TMJ

The worst part is that you could experience one or more of these conditions simultaneously. Pain in the jaw area is probably the most obvious symptom of a TMJ disorder. However, other symptoms include headaches or migraines, pain around the ear, neck pain, and/or back pain. Often, doctors will look for other symptoms such as unusual popping or clicking sounds while moving the jaw, tinnitus, and restricted jaw movement. All these symptoms could point to a TMJ disorder.

What Causes TMJ?

The exact causes of TMJ disorders can be hard to determine. It's not a condition that's confined to the jaw and teeth; instead, TMJ is a complex multisystem disorder that can affect the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, muscular, nervous, respiratory, skeletal, and even reproductive systems. 

People with TMJ often suffer from other conditions, including allergies, chronic fatigue, endometriosis, sleep disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. 

There are many possible causes of TMJ including, but not limited to:

• Physical injury to the jaw area
• Arthritis
• Infections
• Dental surgery
• Grinding or clenching teeth during sleep
• Various autoimmune diseases

Although TMJ is not an autoimmune disease, it’s symptoms can be the result of one. Autoimmune diseases arise when your system mistakenly attacks your body. The TMJ could be the primary site of the autoimmune condition or could be secondarily systemically infected. Therefore, it's necessary to find the root cause of the disorder to treat it effectively. 

Connective tissue disorders and autoimmune disorders that can affect the TMJ include:

• Rheumatism and osteoarthritis
• Systemic lupus erythema
• Scleroderma
• Ankylosing spondylitis

These conditions are considered to be comorbid with TMJ in that they present together in some cases. 

Additionally, certain genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors can increase the likelihood of having TMJ disorders. For instance, violinists tend to present with TMJ at higher rates than the general population because they hold their instruments under the jaw. Such continuous strain can result in TMJ disorders.

As mentioned, women experience TMJ at much higher rates than men. Since the disorder tends to affect women in the childbearing years, researchers are currently investigating if there is a link between estrogen and TMJ disorders.

Outlook

Autoimmune diseases can cause TMJ disorders, but this is not always the cause for concern. The use of physical therapy and mouth splints are two of the most common treatments for TMJ. Physical therapy can include jaw and mouth exercises as well as using hot and cold presses to reduce joint pain. While a mouth splint is a specially made device that is molded to fit your mouth and helps stabilize your jaw.

TMJ disorders, oftentimes, are not serious and may go away in time. However, while you are still suffering from this condition, it can be debilitating and long-lasting for some people, which can considerably lower the quality of life.

Whether your condition is mild or severe, it’s always best to consult a professional. You never know what the root cause could be. If you are suffering from TMJ or are concerned that you may have the disorder, book an appointment with Kanehl Dental Group today and learn how to get relief as soon as possible.