In some cases, this pain is due to Temporomandibular Disorder, also known as TMJ/TMD. TMJ is the abbreviation for the Temporomandibular Joint, the jaw joint anatomy. TMD is the abbreviation for the problems that affect the jaw joints, called Temporomandibular Dysfunction. These two terms are often used interchangeably among patients and even medical and dental professionals. Forces from tooth grinding and clenching at night puts abnormal damaging forces on the muscles, teeth, gums, and jaw joints (TMJ). Nighttime tooth grinding is very common and most often inherited from our parents. This muscle activity starts as young as five years of age. Over time, the increased muscle activity is what leads to tooth wear, muscle tension headaches, migraine headaches, clicking or popping of the TMJ, and gum recession. It is also very common to experience ear symptoms such as ringing or fullness. Many TMD patients will seek help from their ENT doctors, only to find that the ears are fine. The problem is a TMD issue. Symptoms of TMD include: Pain in the jaw area just in front of the ear Pain, ringing, or stuffiness in the ears Frequent headaches or neck aches Clicking or popping sound when the jaw moves Grinding or crunching noises in the jaw joint when eating Muscle tension in the jaw area A change in the alignment of top and bottom teeth Locked jaw or limited opening of the mouth If you notice that you are experiencing any of these symptoms or a combination, you may be suffering from TMD.