Jaw pain can have various causes, but the most common reason for experiencing this discomfort is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, which connects your lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bones of your skull. It is a unique joint in your body that enables you to move your jaw in multiple directions, allowing you to perform activities such as chewing, talking, singing, and yawning. These joints are located just in front of your ears on both sides of your head.
Issues affecting the muscles, ligaments, discs, bones, or the joint itself are collectively referred to as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD is the actual disorder that occurs when the jaw joint is misaligned, leading to problems like pain, inflammation, and limited jaw movement. However, it is important to note that these issues are often mistakenly referred to as TMJ, which is actually the name of the joint itself.