Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause discomfort and pain in the tongue. The temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull, located just in front of your ears. These joints and surrounding muscles enable essential movements like chewing and speaking. Dysfunction in these joints or muscles can lead to various symptoms, including tongue pain, through anatomical and neurological pathways.
How TMJ Can Affect Tongue Sensation
Tongue pain from a TMJ disorder often stems from referred pain, where discomfort from one area is felt in another. The trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve, supplies sensation to the face, jaw, and parts of the tongue. Dysfunction or stress in jaw muscles can irritate branches of this nerve, causing pain to radiate to the tongue. This referred pain can manifest as soreness, burning, or a dull ache.
Chronic tension or spasms in jaw, neck, and throat muscles, common with TMJ disorders, can also indirectly affect the tongue. As the tongue is a muscle, prolonged tension in adjacent structures can strain its own muscles or pressure nearby nerves and tissues. This muscular strain can lead to localized pain or stiffness in the tongue.
A misaligned bite or jaw can alter the tongue’s natural resting position and movement. If the jaw is not properly aligned, the tongue might be forced into an unnatural position, pressing against teeth or resting on the floor of the mouth. This constant pressure or irritation can result in the tongue being bitten or rubbed, leading to soreness or scalloping along its edges. Misalignment can also make it challenging to articulate sounds, affecting speech clarity.
Inflammation or muscle tension from TMJ disorders can irritate or compress specific nerve branches supplying the tongue. The lingual nerve can be affected by hyperactivity in jaw muscles. The chorda tympani nerve, which passes near the TMJ, contributes to taste and salivary gland function; its compression could lead to altered taste or tingling.
Recognizing TMJ Symptoms and Seeking Professional Guidance
Tongue pain associated with TMJ disorders often appears alongside other common jaw symptoms. These include pain or tenderness in the jaw joint, which can spread to the face or neck. Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw are common when opening or closing the mouth. Other indicators are difficulty chewing, jaw stiffness, or limited mouth movement. Headaches, earaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and facial pain are also common, as is a change in how the upper and lower teeth fit together.
If persistent tongue pain accompanies other TMJ symptoms, professional evaluation is needed. A dentist or TMJ specialist can determine if the tongue pain is linked to a jaw disorder. Seeking medical advice is important for diagnosis, as many conditions can mimic TMJ symptoms. The diagnostic process involves reviewing medical history and symptoms, and a physical examination assesses jaw movement, range of motion, and tenderness. Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs may also be used to visualize the joint and surrounding structures.