Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, can potentially contribute to TMJ problems in some cases. Reasons impacted or misaligned wisdom teeth may affect the temporomandibular joint include: Disruption of your natural bite alignment, causing imbalance in the jaw muscles. Increased risk of teeth grinding or clenching due to occlusion interference. Posture changes as wisdom teeth push into position can stress the TMJ. Swelling and inflammation around erupting wisdom teeth can spread to the TMJ tissues. Difficulty properly cleaning around wisdom teeth allows harmful bacteria. The need for tooth extraction can directly traumatize the joint. However, many people with wisdom teeth do not go on to develop TMJ disorders. There needs to be an underlying predisposition or additional factors present beyond just the third molars themselves. But it is recommended to have problematic wisdom teeth removed to eliminate them as a potential TMJ risk factor.