10/13/2026
What causes TMJ problems?
Usually, the better question is: what is putting stress on this system?
Temporomandibular disorders are considered multifactorial, which means there isn’t one universal cause and there isn’t one treatment that makes sense for every patient.
For one person, the problem may involve clenching or grinding and overworked chewing muscles. For another, there may be an injury, inflammation, disc displacement or changes within the jaw joint itself.
Arthritis and certain systemic inflammatory conditions can also affect the TMJ.
Then we have to look beyond the joint.
Poor sleep, chronic pain, stress and the way the nervous system processes pain can all be part of the picture.
Bruxism is associated with TMD, and research also shows an association between obstructive sleep apnea and TMD.
That doesn’t mean sleep apnea automatically causes TMJ pain, but it does mean that snoring, disrupted sleep, mouth breathing, daytime fatigue and other airway concerns shouldn’t necessarily be ignored when someone is dealing with jaw symptoms.
This is also why we don’t automatically blame your bite. Current research does not support the idea that a “bad bite” or previous orthodontic treatment is the cause of TMD.
At Renew Dental and Renew Sleep in Lubbock, Texas, we want to understand the whole system. That can mean evaluating the joint and chewing muscles while also asking about clenching, grinding, sleep quality, breathing, airway health, previous injuries, inflammation and other factors that may be contributing.
Treating where it hurts and understanding why it hurts aren’t always the same thing.
