TMJ Disorder -- Why Women Are More Affected Than Men


No Dental Offices Found We're sorry, but we could not find any results for your search. We suggest you try another ZIP code.

Home > Dental Health Info > Lifestyle Concerns and Medical Conditions > Women Account for 90 Percent of TMJ Sufferers

Women Account for 90% of TMJ Sufferers

Women should avoid TMJ risk factors to prevent developing the painful and potentially debilitating condition.

You've never heard of it, but your dentist says the frequent headaches, muscle pain and popping sound you hear when you open and close your mouth is called TMJ disorder. The good news is you're not alone. Over 10 million people in the U.S. experience TMJ disorder, and the majority of that number is women; in fact, women in their childbearing years account for 90% of all TMJ sufferers. Although doctors aren't sure why more women seek dental treatment for this disorder than men, there is research to help us understand it.

What to Look for

First of all, TMJ disorder is a complex condition that affects the joint connecting your lower jaw to your skull. The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, contains the joint socket and muscles used for chewing and speaking. Also referred to as TMJ syndrome or TMD, TMJ disorder happens when these joints become compromised, often as a result of trauma caused by an accident, teeth grinding, known as bruxism, or teeth clenching.

As a woman, you should be aware of the factors that can cause TMJ so you can take measures to avoid it. You may be more prone to developing TMJ disorder for several reasons:

Stress -- Teeth grinding or clenching is often the result of stress. Not that women necessarily have more stress than men, but it is a significant contributing factor to TMJ syndrome.

Medical Conditions -- Arthritis is also one of the causes of TMJ. As arthritis is more common in women, it would make sense that they would make up a larger percentage of TMJ cases related to arthritis. Women who suffer from fibromyalgia also often have TMJ pain.

Find a Dentist Now

• Thousands of quality dentists

• Dentists screened and selected just for you

• 98% customer satisfaction

• Over 7 million happy patients

FREE MATCHING SERVICE

Find a Dentist Today

Start here — We're available 24/7.

Enter Your ZIP Code: Please enter a new ZIP

Hormones -- Research suggests a link between estrogen, pain and jaw joints. Scientists have found estrogen receptors in the temporomandibular joints of baboons, while none were found in males. Studies have also shown that women who undergo hormone replacement therapy or take oral contraceptives are more likely to report jaw pain.

Joint Structure -- Some believe the collagen that holds the disk in place between the joint's ball and socket in women is different from men. This may cause more women to have dislocated disks, which can trigger TMJ.

Vitamin Deficiencies -- Several conditions linked to magnesium deficiencies have been found to be more common among women, including TMJ syndrome. There is a possibility that menstruation contributes to some vitamin deficiencies, which may explain why TMJ affects women in their childbearing years.

Taking Time to Help Yourself

Whether women are more affected by TMJ disorder or if they're just more likely to seek help for it, they're taking the right route by looking into it. A dentist who's familiar with TMJ can diagnose the condition and rule out other jaw problems. If you're a woman with jaw joint discomfort, be sure to speak with your dentist if you have any of the following symptoms:

- Problems chewing or popping sounds in the jaw

- Headaches, dizziness or ringing in the ears

- Pain in jaw joints, face, neck or shoulders

- Muscle spasms

- Trouble opening or closing the jaw or lockjaw

- Swelling on the side of your face

Your dentist can perform several exams to determine if you have TMJ syndrome. Once diagnosed, you can wait for TMJ to go away on its own or try home therapies for temporary relief. Jaw exercises and warm compresses will help you relax the jaw, and you should also take measures to reduce stress. In the meantime, your dentist may give you a prescription to control TMJ pain, and you should avoid hard and sticky foods to help the joint heal.

For more extreme cases, your dentist may give you a splint or bite plate, which is a plastic guard worn to reduce clenching and teeth grinding. Your doctor may also inject a cleaning solution into the joint to wash away fluid or cortisone to relieve pain. As a last resort, surgery may be used to correct the situation.

A Joint Effort

Scientists are still trying to understand TMJ disorder. But as scientific research progresses, we'll have more information as to why women tend to be more affected. In the meantime, you can take steps to prevent the disease. Reducing stress, eating well and exercising can lessen your chances of getting TMJ syndrome, along with many other ailments. Besides, with all you have to do, shouldn't you take time to relax anyway?

Other Lifestyle Concerns & Medical Conditions Articles


Behaviors that Influence Gum Disease: 1800Dentist.com	How Eating Disorders Cause Dental Problems: 1800Dentist.com
Asthma Increases Odds of Cavities: 1800Dentist.com	How Obesity Affects Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com
Baby Boomers at Higher Risk for Tooth Root Decay	How Second Hand Smoke Affects Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com
BPA and Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com	How Stress Can Affect Your Oral Health
Breathe Through Your Nose to Save Your Smile: 1800Dentist.com	How to Avoid Tooth Discoloration: 1800Dentist.com
Brush, Floss and Prevent Pneumonia: 1800Dentist.com	How to Destroy Your Teeth: 1800Dentist.com
Bulimia Nervosa	Implement Dental Care, Become a Centenarian: 1800Dentist.com
Chewing Gum and Intelligence: 1800Dentist.com	Learn "How Stress Can Destroy Teeth" on 1800Dentist.com
Chewing Gum for Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com	Less Than Perfect Teeth a Hollywood Trend: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Care for Hippies: 1800Dentist.com	Missing Teeth Linked to Ovarian Cancer: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Care Needs of Postmenopausal Women: 1800Dentist.com	Museums for Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Health and Diabetes: 1800Dentist.com	Oral Cancer Virus Prevalent in Men: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 1800Dentist.com	Pilot Protocol Improves Dental Care: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Health and Your Body: 1800Dentist.com	Professional Dental Care for Special Needs Patients
Dental Health Impacted by Pot Smoking: 1800Dentist.com	Redheads Have Higher Level of Dental Anxiety: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Health Myths Exposed!: 1800Dentist.com	Save Your Bones, Wreck Your Teeth?: 1800Dentist.com
Dental Health Risks of Tongue Piercing: 1800Dentist.com	Smokers More Likely to Need Root Canals
Dental Health Tips for Halloween: 1800Dentist.com	Smoking & Your Oral Health
Dental Myths Worth Busting: 1800Dentist.com	Smoking and Tooth Loss: Ways to Win the Battle
Dental News, the Truth is Stranger than Fiction: 1800Dentist.com	Straight Teeth Make Life Better: 1800Dentist.com
Dentistry's Role in Domestic Violence: 1800Dentist.com	Study Reveals Link Between Pregnancy and Tooth Loss
Dentists Know Your Dirty Little Secrets: 1800Dentist.com	Teeth Related Holidays: 1800Dentist.com
Diabetes and Dental Health Go Hand in Hand	The Dental Care and Heart Connection: 1800Dentist.com
Emergency Dental Care, Booming Business: 1800Dentist.com	The Truth Behind Some Dental Urban Legends: 1800Dentist.com
Find Out How Teething Gels May Harm Your Baby on 1800Dentist.com	Three Things Your Dentist Wants You To Know: 1800Dentist.com
Health Risks of Body Piercing: 1800Dentist.com	UK Getting On Water Fluoridation Bandwagon: 1800Dentist.com
Heavy Drinking Linked to Oral Cancer	Unusual Smile Killer: 1800Dentist.com
Hidden Risks of Chewing Gum: 1800Dentist.com	Use Tax Refunds for Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com
How Baseball Impacts Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com	Water Fluoridation is Yesterday's News: 1800Dentist.com
How Disney Helps Dental Care Professionals: 1800Dentist.com	What Teeth Can Reveal About Health: 1800Dentist.com
How Drug Use Impacts Dental Health:1800Dentist.com	Your Looks and Dental Health: 1800Dentist.com