Signs and Symptoms

People with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) usually have more than one sign or symptom. You may have one or more of the following:

Your jaw may make popping, clicking or grating sounds as it moves.
You may have trouble opening and/or shutting your mouth; your jaw may feel stiff, tired or may catch or lock in certain positions. You may not be able to open your mouth as wide as usual.
You may have jaw aches and pain. Because there are a number of nerves and muscles around the TMJ, you may have other pain as well. You may have earaches, headaches, toothaches and neck and shoulder pain.
You may have other ear-related symptoms such as stuffy ears, hearing loss, dizziness and problems with balance.
Your teeth may be cracked and/or worn down. Although this is not caused by TMD, it is a sign of bruxism and jaw clenching.
You may have swelling in the jaw with TMD.
You may have muscle pain, tightness, spasm and tenderness.