The cause of most TMJ disorders remains unknown. Some types of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders appear to be caused by injury to the joint from a severe blow to the jaw or arthritis.
Many behaviors, including frequently clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth (which may occur during sleep), poor posture that puts strain on the muscles and bones near the jaw, or other habits that overwork the jaw muscles (e.g. constantly chewing gum), may contribute to the development of TMJ disorders. However, further research is needed to definitively determine if these behaviors cause TMJ disorders. The National institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is currently performing a large study to help determine possible biological and genetic factors that may cause TMJ disorders.
Overworking the jaw muscles has been shown to worsen symptoms of TMJ disorders.
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