The Four Main Causes of TMJ Disorder

This post is an overview of what I believe to be the four root causes of TMJ symptoms. Before diving in, I want to define "main causes" as stated in the title. I am referring to the most common root causes, not an exhaustive list. There are always outliers, and my heart goes out to those dealing with TMJ stemming from cancer, autoimmune disease, or other conditions where even less information exists, in the already limited TMJ conversation. If you'd like to take a deeper dive into these four pillars and see how they relate to TMD, or all chronic disease for that matter, you can sign up for the Premium Skool Tier.

The Core Four:

Structural Issues
Nervous System & Stress
Myofascial Issues
Lifestyle

Let me do a brief dive into each of these, we can always discuss them at greater length in a later post. One very important thing to note is the order in which these need to be addressed. I find that getting the order right is just AS essential as figuring out which one(s) you're dealing with. So when you read 1–4, by no means are they ranked by how common they are. Ironically, I believe number two, a dysregulated nervous system, is likely the biggest and most common culprit.

1. Structural Issues

Many issues fall under this umbrella. Some tend to be more rare, like a benign tumor requiring surgical intervention. Others are more commonly seen, like underdeveloped jaws. If someone's jaw didn't grow forward and wide enough, it brings on a chain of complications — an obstructed airway, compression in the TMJ joint from the mandible being "stuck" back by a recessed maxilla, narrow palates causing poor nasal breathing, sleep apnea, tongue/lip/cheek ties, and bad occlusion, to name a few. From my own research and experience, these need to be addressed before any muscle or fascia work, because muscles follow structure and will always compensate until the structure is corrected. Now, this doesn't mean going to a chiropractor to be "put into alignment" (I don't fully agree with that in a general sense anyway). I'm talking about getting unstuck from forward head posture. If your jaws are recessed and cutting off your airway, your body will have no choice but to extend your head forward to prioritize breathing. The downstream effects, tight muscles, neck pain, poor posture, are minor inconveniences compared to insufficient oxygen.

2. Nervous System and Stress

Nervous system work and muscular/fascia issues are, in my opinion, interchangeable and deeply connected. I'm putting nervous system work in the second spot because I believe there's a greater return on investment while waiting for structural issues to be resolved, compared to jumping straight into muscle/fascia work. This topic deserves a lifetime of explanation on its own, one I'm willing to give, just not in this post. To put it as simply as I can: my goal is to become the most authentic, truest expression of myself. You must to go inward to find what you truly want in this life, and then have the courage to own it and go after it. I'm not talking about quick dopamine hits or surface-level wants (like money masking a deeper need for safety). I'm talking about what your soul wants. And to make it easier, it's generally the same across people: love, curiosity, confidence, etc and then finding a path that lets you experience and express those things daily. On a more relatable note, you have to teach your nervous system that you are a safe space to feel and process your own emotions. Unprocessed emotions get stored in the body as pain, knots, and tension, and that's exactly where the fascia and muscle work ties in. These need to be released from the inside and the outside.

3. Myofascial Issues

Once structure is addressed, the muscles and fascia are ready, and desperate, to be worked on. Years of forward head posture and compensation patterns leave the entire body in need of release and rebuilding. Fascia is a continuous, interconnected web that envelops the whole body; there is no isolated problem, and there is no isolated fix. Rehydrating fascia, releasing muscular tension, targeted physical therapy, and progressive strength training all play a role. Even things that may seem minor, like learning to walk and breathe properly. The body moves as one unit, and the work reflects that.

4. Lifestyle

Lastly, lifestyle. While this encompasses ten times the variables of the first three categories combined, I'll touch on it the least here. It's largely about maintenance and ensuring that you continue to heal and age well as you do the deeper work. Prioritizing a nutrient dense local diet, movement, a good light environment with ample sun, and maybe the most important of all, a community you can fully be yourself in. Feeling a true deep sense of connection with others, something I hope to create in this group.

Appreciate everyone being here and reading this over. I hope something has helped.

With love,

John

5 comments

The Four Main Causes of TMJ Disorder