Common Symptoms
- Moderate to severe muscle tension headaches (commonly misdiagnosed as migraines)
- Headaches at the base of the skull
- Difficulty opening wide and eating hard or chewy foods
- Jaw joint noise while opening or closing
- Jaw pain
- Dizziness
- Ear pain, loss of hearing or congestion
- Fatigue and inability to sleep well
- Neck and shoulder pain or tension
- Locking episodes
Causes
- Trauma to the head, neck or face as a result of a fall or automobile accident
- Frequent stressful situations and clenching
- Intubation during general anesthesia, occasionally causes jaw complications
- Childbirth
- Cervical traction and cervical collars
- Certain musical instruments, such as the violin, flute, and clarinet
- Forward head posture