What is TMJ? Zoe Ball shares update on health condition with followers

Radio presenter Zoe Ball has revealed that she wakes up most mornings with “awful headaches” caused by a painful condition, called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, that affects the jaw.
Posting on Instagram to her more than 700,000 followers, she said: “I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension [and] jaw clenching.”
Ms Ball shared a photo of her face before and after receiving treatment to ease the symptoms of the disorder, saying she was very “grateful” to the clinic that helped her.
The health update follows her announcement earlier this month that she will be stepping down from hosting Radio 2’s Breakfast show after six years, passing the batton to Scott Mills.
What is TMJ?
According to the NHS website, Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a condition that affects the jaw and the muscles surrounding it.
The condition is relatively common, affecting around 1 in 15 people in the UK between the ages of 20-40 years old, and is not a progressive disorder.
It can affect a person’s ability to open their mouth, chew food and even impact sleep.
TMJ can affected one or both sides of the face and can present with differing symptoms but some of the most common are:
What causes it?
There is no single cause of the disorder with many biological, psychological and social factors at play, but some of the main causes include:
What treatments are available?
Most people with the condition can treat it at home, with over-the-counter painkillers, icepacks and jaw massages.
The NHS also suggests eating soft foods and finding ways to relax, while also advising people to avoid chewing gum, biting their nails and yawning too wide.
Some sufferers are unsure whether to seek help from a dentist or their GP.
Mr Peter Dyer, chair of the British Dental Association’s hospital Dentist’s committee, advises anyone with suspected TMJ to visit their dentist who will be able to look at the face, teeth and jaw.
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“They will take a history to find the cause and most likely advise a soft diet and jaw massages,” he said.
“In some cases they might provide a split, like a mouthguard, to wear at night to stop teeth grinding.”
“Resting, a soft diet and being given reassurance will allow most patients to recover.”
For patients who struggle with stress, a GP can refer patients to a psychologist.
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