TMJ, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, can be one of the most irritating conditions that an individual can experience. It involves pain that compromises the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles, to the point that you may have difficulty with speaking or eating. However, the severity of TMJ can range wildly. While some people find that some changes in habits and medications will resolve their TMJ relatively quickly, others must wear guards or even take on physical therapy in order to resolve the issue.

Although the TMJ Association reports that about 30 million Americans suffer from temporomandibular disorders, many people still don't know how to recognize the symptoms of TMJ. The sooner you recognize that you have TMJ, the easier it will be for you to address the issue and have it properly treated. Let's look into some of the signs that you may have TMJ.

1. Jaw Pain

Obviously, one of the clearest signs that you're suffering from TMJ would be that you are dealing with jaw pain. While it's quite common for people to suffer from jaw pain from time to time after excessive chewing (say, after chewing gum for an extended period of time) TMJ pain is different. It is persistent, and you may experience pain even when you aren't moving your jaw. You may also experience pain while swallowing, and quite often it will extend to the point that you feel pain around your ears and face as well.

2. Locking or Clicking

Quite often, those that suffer from TMJ report experiencing a clicking of their jaw when they speak, chew, or yawn. This clicking may or may not coincide with pain. Quite often, the clicking will be loud enough for other people to notice. At the same time, you may notice your jaw locking as well, which will make it difficult for you to open or close your mouth.

3. Muscle Spasms

You may also notice sudden twitching surrounding your face or jaw. While twitches should always be investigated, they may very well be connected not to neurological issues, but to muscle spasms in the jaw due to TMJ.

As previously mentioned, TMJ can be treated. But you need to be aggressive when having it diagnosed so that the problem is treated as soon as possible.