The jaw muscles and ligaments can hurt on their own, but they can also send pain to muscles in other places, such as your neck and shoulder, says Brendan C. Stack, Sr., D.D.S., an orthodontist and president of the National Capital Center for Craniofacial Pain in Vienna, Virginia, and past president of the American Academy of Head, Neck, Facial Pain and TMJ Orthopedics. The possible culprits of TMD are many. It could be arthritis, which can just as easily affect your jaw joint as any other joint in the body. Improper alignment of teeth could also tax the joint. Sometimes a whack to the jaw area can set TMD in motion.
Teeth grinding and tight facial muscles brought on by stress can exacerbate the problem.
Finally, sinus infections and toothaches can put pressure on the muscles in your face, making you think you have TMD when you actually don't, Dr. Stack says. Before you take your problem to the experts, here are a few things you should know and try. Save the knife for last. Don't be tempted or persuaded to seek a fast surgical solution to your jaw problem, Dr. Haywood says. Surgery to realign the jaw or teeth is a last resort.