Facial pain can be both frustrating and confusing for the sufferer. For many sufferers, they may immediately think that something is wrong with their dental health, or perhaps a sinus infection, or even caused by stress. However, many people do not consider that their facial pain may be related to their temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ and facial pain connect the lower jaw (or mandible) to the skull and are used throughout our everyday lives, such as chewing, yawning, and speaking. Jaw Pain, Clicking, or Limited Movement In general, the first indication that facial pain is TMJ-related includes discomfort in or around the jaw joint itself. It may take the form of aching in the ear region, pain when chewing, being unable to open or close, or feeling like your jaw is "stuck" when trying to open/close, or not able to move your jaw properly. Many people also report a clicking, popping, or grinding noise coming from their jaw when they move their jaw. While this noise may no...
