Causes of Temporomandibular Joint Disease

Other Facial Pain

Other forms of facial pain may cause problems in the temporomandibular joint, and at the very least, they will increase the risk of developing problems. In some cases, pain from headaches or internal pressure will radiate to the jaw. This radiating pain can develop into a TMJ disorder, especially if the patient is moving their jaw in unconventional ways to try to provide relief.

"Other facial pain" is a vague definition that can encompass any number of injuries and illnesses. This may be a case where it's a matter of correlation, not causation. If a person is experiencing pain throughout their face for any reason, it makes sense for the pain to extend down to the jaw. Similarly, if a person is experiencing jaw pain, it makes sense for it to radiate into the skull.

Researchers have yet to pinpoint an exact cause for TMJ disorders. Sometimes, they can develop seemingly out of nowhere, when no other risk factors were present. And sometimes they make perfect sense as the side effect of an injury or illness.