{"id":389,"date":"2025-06-12T15:36:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T15:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.princealbertdental.com\/blog\/?p=389"},"modified":"2026-07-23T15:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T20:48:08","slug":"could-stress-make-tmj-dysfunction-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.princealbertdental.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/12\/could-stress-make-tmj-dysfunction-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Stress Be Making Your TMJ Dysfunction Worse?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"An<\/a><\/figure><\/div>

There are certain things you may do when you’re stressed that you might not do under normal circumstances. In fact, some of them you may not even realize you’re doing, such as grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. But just because you’re not doing it intentionally<\/em> doesn’t mean it’s not bad for you. Here’s how stress-related behaviors can make conditions like temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction)<\/a> worse, and what you can do about it.<\/p>

What is TMJ Dysfunction?<\/h2>

TMJ dysfunction is a collection of disorders related to the temporomandibular joint of the jaw. Essentially, it is a misalignment where the joint does not remain properly in the socket during movement. It can be caused by a variety of things including injury, genetics, arthritis, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and stress.<\/p>

Symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include headaches, neck and back pain, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), jaw pain, jaw stiffness, difficulty opening the mouth to eat or speak, and clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.<\/p>

TMJ Dysfunction and Stress<\/h2>

Between five and twelve percent of the adult population is believed to have some form of TMJ dysfunction. It is most commonly found in women and is more likely to occur between the ages of 20 and 40.<\/p>

Physical manifestations of stress can often worsen TMJ dysfunction, such as if you grind your teeth, bite your nails or chew on inedible objects like pen caps, or clench your jaw. These can cause tension in the jaw, or put excessive pressure on it, increasing the pain and stiffness.<\/p>

Reducing TMJ Dysfunction Pain<\/h2>

In a perfect world, you could easily eliminate much of your TMJ dysfunction pain by simply cutting out all the stress from your life. But while that’s usually not possible, there is plenty you can<\/em> do, even if you live a busy or demanding existence. Here are a few suggestions:<\/p>