Temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect the lower mandible to your skull. This connection enables you to chew, yawn, talk, and make infinite facial expressions. It acts as a sliding hinge that allows your jaw to move in various possible ways.

Globally, around 60-70% of the general population encounters a symptom arising from TMJ disorders. Despite this, only 5% of these affected individuals seek treatment. Treatment often involves reducing associated symptoms like limited jaw movement and pain in surrounding areas.

However, uncommon to most, TMJ dysfunction has a profound impact on mental health. This connection is often overlooked, which can significantly affect how you live. At MVMT Sports Chiropractic, we understand the complex interplay between TMJ condition and mental state. 

MVMT Sports Chiropractic designed a holistic approach to treating TMJ conditions. We recognise that the physical aspect of these conditions is just one part of the puzzle. We believe that it is equally important to consider the mental and emotional well-being of our patients. 

Understanding TMJ Pain and Its Mental Health Impact

TMJ disorders (TMD) are umbrella terms affecting the jaw joints and muscles (masticatory). They involve throbbing pain and discomfort in the jaw, ear, face, neck, and head. 

Aside from discomfort, TMD manifests in various ways, such as jaw popping or clicking limited jaw mobility, and an uneven bite. For many, these symptoms only last briefly or typically fade away. But when does TMJ pain become chronic? 

According to studies, genetic variables influence TMJ pain to become chronic. When TMJ pain becomes chronic, it significantly affects your quality of life. But does chronic TMJ pain affect your mental health?

Chronic TMJ pain can interfere with daily activities, which negatively affects your mental health. The physical and emotional strain of constantly dealing with TMJ pain can potentially increase anxiety and stress levels. Research supports this, with negative emotional states such as depression often associated with TMD. 

The Vicious Cycle of Pain and Mental Health

To understand how persisting TMJ pain contributes to mental stress, it has something to do with cortisol. Cortisol reduces inflammation, which your body produces when stressed. However, prolonged stress due to chronic TMJ pain can disrupt cortisol release and make it unable to stop inflammation.

How can this situation lead to a vicious cycle of pain? An inflamed jaw, ear and face are common stressful situations in chronic TMJ dysfunction. This is problematic because of the inability to reduce inflammation. 

You might sometimes have habits to release emotional stress, like nail or pencil biting and clenching. These habits often contribute to bruxism (excessive teeth clenching), which leads to a never-ending cycle of pain.

According to the Polish Annals of Medicine, TMD patients often show high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Experiencing continuous pain and stress can even lead to parafunctional habits like teeth clenching and grinding, which can worsen your TMJ disorders. 

These psychological effects of TMJ pain, if left ignored, may lead to severe long-term health implications.

How TMJ Pain Affects Daily Life and Mental Well-being

TMJ pain can disrupt your daily life, both physically and emotionally. Although it may vary from person to person, here’s how it can affect various aspects of your daily life: 

  • Chewing difficulties—painful, swollen jaw joints and muscles make eating difficult or almost impossible. Dietary changes must be made before this leads to nutritional deficiencies.
  • Communication challenges – inability to move the mouth freely may hinder you from talking, yawning, smiling, and using other facial expressions. 
  • Headaches and migraines – often varying severity of headaches and migraines accompany chronic TMJ disorders, which exacerbate the condition and limit daily activities.
  • Sleep disturbance – potential insomnia or restless nights due to discomfort, which may cause fatigue, irritability and decreased activity during the day.
  • Social isolation – physical limitation and pain can make you feel self-conscious and avoid social interactions.

Living with chronic TMJ pain takes a significant emotional toll. The constant limitations and discomforts can be frustrating and stressful. These heavy emotional burdens of being helpless and isolated contribute to anxiety and depression, affecting your mental health. 

Managing the Mental Health Impact of TMJ Pain

TMJ pain significantly impacts your mental health and takes a toll on your overall well-being. Below are some strategies to overcome the mental challenges associated with TMJ disorders:

Relaxation Techniques

These relaxation techniques are simple yet effective in attaining increased calmness. To do this, you can take slow, deep breaths (deep breathing), systematically tense and relax each muscle group from the toes to the head (progressive muscle relaxation), or simply visualise yourself in a peaceful, relaxing state (guided imagery). 

Mindfulness Meditation

This is all about focusing on the present moment without minding your judgments. Set aside 10-15 minutes a day to do this. Then, try focusing on your breathing and paying full attention to what’s going on in and around you. You can also try mindfulness meditation with yoga, tai chi, and qigong. 

Physical Therapy

Working with a physical therapist can help you with personalised remedies to improve jaw health. Treatments include strengthening the jaw, correcting posture, and adjusting lifestyle to manage chronic TMJ pain. A therapy-based approach can be an adequate TMJ treatment to relieve pain and stress. 

A comprehensive treatment approach is essential to address the physical and mental challenges that TMJ dysfunction brings. Aside from the shared strategies, cognitive behavioural therapy is also an ideal option to address the mental health impacts of TMJ pain.

How MVMT Sports Chiro Can Help

Many people struggle with TMJ pain and its associated mental health challenges. That’s why finding a highly credible team like MVMT Sports Chiropractic is key to effectively managing TMJ pain’s physical and emotional aspects. 

We understand that TMJ pain has a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Unlike traditional methods, we personalise treatment plans to ensure holistic recovery and relief. 

We offer key services and therapies, including:

  • Manual Therapy – chiropractic techniques including therapist-assisted massage, mobilisation and manipulation to help reduce muscle tension, improve joint function and boost stress relief.
  • Dry Needling – involves inserting thin needles into specific muscles to help you reduce muscle tension and pain, which are factors contributing to emotional burdens.
  • Fascial Manipulation involves cupping to reduce the stiffness of fascial tissue layers. This helps reduce muscle pain and relax stressed tissues to achieve emotional tranquillity.
  • Postural Correction: This addresses your postural imbalances to help alleviate strain on the TMJ and reduce discomfort. Improving posture is also beneficial in reducing social anxiety while boosting self-esteem.
  • Stress Management Techniques – we guide patients in lifestyle changes and habits to maintain healthy jaw function and health. 

The serious impacts of TMJ pain extend far beyond physical discomfort. It often leads to mental and emotional challenges like stress, anxiety and depression. Recognising these often-overlooked burdens is crucial for effective treatment of TMJ disorders. 

Don’t let TMJ pain control your life. At MVMT Sports Chiropractic, we’re deeply committed to providing comprehensive treatment that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of TMJ condition. 

Schedule a consultation today to start a proactive step in reclaiming your emotional tranquillity and pain-free life!