There are many reasons for this happening, too many to list here. When the TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) is not tracking properly, a person is said to have TMJD (the D is for dysfunction).. Muscle imbalances within the jaw, cranium (head), and neck can cause the TMJ not to open and/or close properly. This can result in a jaw that hurts, pops, clicks, can't open all the way, can't close properly, deviates or zigzags when opening or closing, or tires when chewing. TMJD affects a lot of people and is the cause of headaches, neckaches, irritability, fatigue, and even constantly biting their jaw or lip. The muscle imbalances causing the problems are commonly due to past injuries to the head, neck, or jaw itself. The TMJ has a intricate influence on the rest of the body due to the neurological connection with which it functions. Therefore, just about anything can affect the TMJ and vice-versa. This is why someone may only have a jaw problem when they are sick - or their TMJ problems may have first started with they became sick. It is not uncommon for a TMJ issue to start once woman has a hysterectomy or since she goes through menopause.

A jaw fatiguing from a typical meal or even chewing gum is similar to when any other muscle fatigues. Sometimes it is a direct muscle problem within the jaw, other times it is from a lack of certain nutrients, most common is a deficiency of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5).

 copyright © 2000-2008 by Dr. Stephen Gangemi