TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can be caused by a lot of different things, including teeth grinding, direct trauma to your jaw and face, and even chronic inflammatory diseases like arthritis.  

You may also have heard that TMJ can be caused by stress. But is that true? In this blog from Honest Teeth, we’ll discuss what you should know about stress-induced TMJ, and how you can treat and prevent this condition. 

TMJ Can Be Caused By Stress-Induced Grinding & Clenching 

The answer is “yes.” Stress can definitely contribute to TMJ, or even be a direct cause of TMJ. This is because stress is thought to be a big factor that contributes to grinding and clenching, also known as “bruxism.”

Bruxism happens when the teeth are gnashed or clenched together uncontrollably throughout the day, and it’s even more common at night. Over time, this puts excessive strain on your teeth, supporting ligaments, and jaw muscles, and can contribute to the development of TMJ.

So if you notice yourself grinding and clenching a lot due to stress, and you also think you have noticed signs of TMJ like jaw pain and discomfort, it’s entirely possible that your TMJ has been caused by teeth grinding. 

How Can I Prevent Or Treat Stress-Induced TMJ? 

Wondering how you can avoid clenching and grinding, and eliminate or reduce your risk of stress-induced TMJ? There are a few different steps you can take.

  • Reduce stress – Doing things like meditating or doing yoga, exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, or even seeing a therapist may help reduce your stress, and lower your risk of teeth clenching and grinding.

  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine – Teeth grinding tends to intensify after the consumption of caffeine and alcohol. Reducing or eliminating these substances from your diet and lifestyle can help you mitigate the effects of grinding and clenching.

  • Try to reduce stress on your jaw – Chewing gum, for example, is a common stress reduction technique, but chewing a lot of gum can actually make things worse by putting more stress and strain on your jaw joints and muscles, so you may want to stop chewing gum if you’ve made it a habit.
    As part of your treatment, your doctor or dentist may also recommend you eat mostly soft foods and avoid hard, chewy, crunchy, and tough foods for a few weeks. This also helps ease stress on your jaw.

  • Be more aware of daytime clenching/grinding – Try to be more aware of the position of your teeth during the day. For example, you can set a timer on your phone to go offer every 15 minutes, and consciously unclench and relax your jaw whenever you hear it go off.

  • Consider a night guard for teeth grinding – A night guard helps prevent damage from teeth grinding, and some types of night guards from Honest Teeth also help your jaw joints and muscles heal and recover from TMJ.

Contact Honest Teeth For Expert TMJ Care In Elm Grove!

Whether you think that your TMJ is being caused by stress or grinding, or you have TMJ due to any other issue, Dr. Meinerz and Dr. Krueger are here to help at Honest Teeth. Schedule a consultation online or give us a call at (262) 784-7770 to get started right away, and get the help you need.