TMJ 101

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What Is TMJ/TMD?

TMDs aren’t just sore jaws—they’re complex, systemic conditions impacting everything from posture to digestion and mental health.

It’s not just teeth grinding. It’s a full-body burden.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), are a set of more than 30 health disorders associated with both the temporomandibular joints and the muscles and tissues of the jaw.

TMDs have a range of causes and often co-occur with a number of overlapping medical conditions, including headaches, fibromyalgia, back pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

TMDs can be transient or long-lasting and may be associated with problems that range from an occasional click of the jaw to severe chronic pain involving the entire orofacial region. Everyday activities, including eating and talking, are often difficult for people with TMDs, and many of them suffer with severe chronic pain due to this condition. Common social activities that most people take for granted, such as smiling, laughing, and kissing, can become unbearable.

This dysfunction and pain, and its associated suffering, take a terrible toll on affected individuals, their families, and their friends. Individuals with TMDs often feel stigmatized and invalidated in their experiences by their family, friends, and, often, the health care community. Misjudgments and a failure to understand the nature and depths of TMDs can have severe consequences—more pain and more suffering—for individuals, their families and our society.

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When It Rains, It Pours
TMJ rarely shows up alone. It’s often entangled with other chronic conditions like:
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraines and chronic headaches
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Fatigue and sleep disorders
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Know Your Jaw: TMJ Glossary

Plain language definitions to help you make sense of it all—no medical degree required.

  • Condyle

    The ball of your jaw joint

  • Fossa

    The socket where the jaw joint rests

  • Crepitus

    The crunchy, popping noise your jaw makes (and hates)

  • Synovial Fluid

    The joint’s natural lubricant

  • Bruxism

    The clenching or grinding of teeth (often linked to stress)

  • Trismus

    A stiff or locked jaw that won’t open or close fully

Learn All Terms

TMJ FAQs: Start Here

We get these a lot—because TMJ is confusing, frustrating, and often misunderstood.

  • TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint—aka the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. But when people say they “have TMJ,” they usually mean they have a TMJ disorder, which can cause jaw pain, headaches, facial pressure, popping, locking, and more. It’s not “just stress”—it’s a legitimate, complex medical condition.

  • Because TMJ lives in the wild west between medicine and dentistry. The system hasn’t caught up, which leaves many patients paying out of pocket. Part of our advocacy work is pushing for policy reform to fix this broken system.

Still have questions?

Visit Our Full FAQ Page

Your Next Stop: The Hub
TMJ is complicated—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.
From jaw-friendly recipes and survival guides to insurance help and provider tips, we’ve packed The Hub with practical tools to help you manage life with TMJ. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into the grind, this is your go-to destination for support, clarity, and community-contributed wisdom.
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