{"id":443,"date":"2023-09-06T17:53:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T17:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isleepsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=443"},"modified":"2024-03-02T20:10:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T20:10:25","slug":"connection-between-tmd-and-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isleepsolutions.com\/blog\/connection-between-tmd-and-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Connection Between TMD and Arthritis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roughly 10 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with TMJ disorder (TMD)<\/a>, while a whopping 1 in 4 adults has been diagnosed with arthritis. Both of these conditions can cause persistent pain and adversely affect a person\u2019s quality of life \u2014 but is there any real connection between them? In many cases, yes. This blog post discusses what you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TMD, which is often called TMJ disorder, TMJ dysfunction, or simply TMJ, is a condition that afflicts the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is located just in front of your ears. It may be the result of injury, overuse, strain, or other factors. It is associated with dozens of different symptoms, including jaw pain, difficulty eating, headaches, neck aches, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Types of Arthritis Are Associated with TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArthritis\u201d is an umbrella term that can refer to a number of different conditions that afflict joints within the body, including the jaw joint. Research has found a link between numerous types of arthritis and TMJ disorder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osteoarthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Osteoarthritis causes joint degeneration. It is particularly common among older individuals. As the condition progresses, it may affect the TMJ and lead to dysfunction of the jaw. Many people with osteoarthritis in the jaw experience persistent pain, the sensation of lockjaw, difficulty chewing, and other TMD symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

RA is an autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation in the joints. A study from 2007 found that 93% of participants had either TMD symptoms or destruction of the jawbone. Often, the severity of the person\u2019s TMD was correlated with the severity of their RA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PsA is an inflammatory condition of the joints that sometimes affects individuals who have psoriasis in their skin. Individuals with PsA are at an increased risk of numerous TMD symptoms, including teeth grinding and clenching, jaw noises, and difficulty opening the jaw. Untreated PsA even has the potential to cause permanent jaw damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Types of Arthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other types of arthritis may also be linked to TMD. For example, traumatic arthritis (caused by an acute injury) can lead to long-term pain in the jaw. Infectious arthritis, which starts with an infection in the joint, is associated with inflammation, limited jaw movement, and other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few practical steps that may help to protect your TMJ from the pain and damage that can be caused by arthritis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n