{"id":207,"date":"2026-04-16T14:24:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T14:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mylakeforestdental.com\/blog\/?p=207"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:30:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T14:30:59","slug":"how-stress-affects-tmj-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mylakeforestdental.com\/blog\/?p=207","title":{"rendered":"How Stress Affects TMJ Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you suffer from the painful condition known as TMJ disorder<\/a>, you may struggle to get lasting relief. Unfortunately, however, certain lifestyle influences can make your already uncomfortable symptoms feel a lot worse. Here\u2019s a closer look at how stress can play a negative role in your TMJ disorder symptoms, and what you can do about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is TMJ Disorder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The temporomandibular joints are a series of delicate parts that connect your lower jaw (the mandible) to your maxilla (the upper jaw). Every day, you use them constantly to do things like eat, speak, smile, sneeze, and laugh. Under ideal conditions, you probably wouldn\u2019t think too much about your temporomandibular joints, but if they become damaged due to injury or genetics, it can be difficult to focus on anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because when they become injured or misaligned, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) can cause a variety of painful symptoms including headaches, neck and back pain, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), jaw pain and stiffness, and difficulty and\/or clicking or popping sounds when opening the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Connection Between TMJ Disorder and Stress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it may not be a household name, it is believed that upwards of 12 percent of American adults have some form of TMJ disorder, although they are most commonly found in women between the ages of 20 and 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are many causes of TMJ disorders, stress is a common trigger, especially if you grind your teeth, bite your fingernails, clench your jaw, or chew on inedible objects like pen caps to cope with your emotions. These behaviors can all increase tension in your jaw or put it under excess pressure which only intensifies the pain and stiffness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Get Relief from TMJ Disorder Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it would be lovely to simply eliminate all the stress from your life as a way to reduce TMJ pain, the truth is that for most people, that\u2019s not possible. The good news, however, is that there are still a few effective ways you can get lasting relief regardless of how hectic your life is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n