Did you ever wonder why that shark in “Jaws” was so aggressive for four movies? For all you know, he simply had Temporomandibular disorder, also known as TMD or as some people call it, TMJ. TMD is an ailment that results from problems with the jaw – the human jaw, its joints and surrounding facial muscles.

Joint Effort

Simple everyday movements such as opening and closing of our mouths, chewing, speaking and swallowing are all made possible by collaborative hard work of the different parts of the jaw:

- Temporomandibular joints (TM joints), two of the most complex joints in the body

- Ligaments and discs

- Several jaw and facial muscles

- Lower jawbone or the mandible, to which the TM joints are connected

When any one of these does not perform as expected, problems such as TMD can result.

Jaws, the Making

Doctors have not identified exactly what causes TMD, but studies show that some factors may cause symptoms to develop such as injury to the jaw, muscles of the head and neck and diseases like arthritis in the jaw area.

Teeth grinding or clenching may also aggravate TMD symptoms as it puts a lot of pressure on the TM joints. So does stress -- tense people tend to tighten facial muscles or clench their teeth. An uneven bite is also linked with causing TMD.

On the Lookout

Women of childbearing age are said to be affected more by TMD than older men and women. But whatever age group you belong to, you may want to see a dentist if you feel the following TMD symptoms that last more than a week:

- Pain in the face or jaw area, toothaches and headaches

- Earaches and pain in or around your ear when chewing

- Neck, shoulder or back pain

- Inability to open your mouth wide

- Jaw locking, whether open or closed

- Unusual sounds in your jaw like clicking, popping or grating when opening or closing your mouth

- Uncomfortable bite, like your upper and lower jaw don’t quite fit together

- Dizziness

Reality Bites

Only a dentist can say for sure if you do have TMD after a detailed check of your patient history and a clinical exam. X rays may be taken along with other imaging tests -- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging or a CT scan, to help the dentist view your bones, soft tissues and joints in greater detail.

The dentist may also make a cast or mold of your teeth to see if your bite has any abnormalities. If he or she feels like you need further diagnosis or treatment, you may be referred to a physician or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Healing the Jaw

Your dentist can recommend the best treatment for you, which may include any of the following:

- Stretching exercises for your jaw and stress-reducing exercises

- Medications such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs which are available over the counter, and prescription-only drugs like muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants

- Mouth protectors such as splints and night guards to prevent teeth from clenching and grinding. Splints are worn full time and night guards are worn only at night

- Corrective dental treatments to fix an uneven bite

Below are some things you can also do yourself to help relieve pain and prevent complicating TMD:

- Go on a soft diet and stay away from hard and crunchy foods, chewy foods, and any kind of food that require you to open your mouth wide, as well as foods that require you to constantly chew, like gum. When you have TMD, yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, soup and the like should be your best friends.

- Avoid extreme jaw movements such as yelling or singing

- Consciously maintain proper posture. That means restraining yourself from resting your chin on your hand or holding your phone between your ear and your shoulder. Try to avoid multi-tasking while you’re on the phone to keep one hand free to hold the receiver, or get a hands-free kit.

If you are feeling pains related to TMD or are diagnosed with the disorder, take comfort in the fact that there are ways to make you feel better -- and your dentist can help!

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