Temporomandibular disorders (“TMDs”) are conditions which affect the jaw muscles and/or jaw joint complex. They can be acute (e.g. come on suddenly), episodic (come and go) or persistent (linger) and can affect various aspects of your life such as talking, eating and yawning.

TMD symptoms may include any of the following:

o   Jaw locking, clicking or clunking

o   Jaw pain

o   Headaches

o   Tinnitus (ringing) or sensation of fullness in your ear

Jaw symptoms caused by TMDs may be aggravated by:

o   Jaw activities, such as eating, yawning, talking

o   Sleep (particularly if you’re a clencher or grinder)

o   Stress

Did you know that conservative management is the recommended first line management of TMDs?

There are a number of techniques physiotherapists use to manage TMDs. These techniques have been shown to help reduce jaw symptoms and improve function.

Specific management will vary depending on what TMD you have. The first step is a thorough assessment to see what is going on! Subsequent TMD care might then include advice/education, manual therapy (hands on treatment), discussion of self-management strategies, exercises, or (often) a combination of these depending on what is causing your problem and what you want to get back to.