What is TMJ? Zoe Ball opens up about ‘awful headaches’ from jaw clenching

Zoe Ball has shared that she often wakes up with "awful headaches from tension and jaw clenching", as a result of a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder.

The broadcaster, who recently announced her exit from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after six years, spoke out about the disorder that affects her health in an Instagram post.

She shared two photographs of her face before and after treatment, with the resulting photograph showing her face looking visibly more relaxed.

Ball wrote in the caption: "I have TMJ and wake up most days with awful headaches from tension and jaw clenching."

What are temporomandibular joint disorders?

Temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJ or TMD, are a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that control jaw movement.

The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. It is located at the front of each ear. It allows your jaw bone to move from side to side, backwards and forwards, and to open and close your mouth.

According to Bupa, around one in 10 people in the UK have a problem with their jaw joint, with women being more likely to develop jaw conditions compared to men.

The jaw joint is a complicated part of the body, which means there are a number of different issues that you can experience with it, with a number of different causes.

According to the NHS, some of the most common causes of TMJ are:

• Teeth grinding

• Wear and tear of the joint

• A blow to the head or face

• Stress

• An uneven bite

What the symptoms of TMJ?

Symptoms of TMJ may include:

• Pain around your jaw, ear and temple

• Clicking, popping or grinding noises when you move your jaw

• A headache around your temples

• Difficulty opening your mouth fully

• Your jaw locking when you open your mouth

The NHS states that the pain may be worse when chewing and when you feel stressed. TMJ has also been known to cause discomfort and pain in the neck and shoulders.

The condition can also disrupt your sleep due to the pain and discomfort it causes. This can lead to waking up frequently, restless sleep, and insomnia, according to the Centre for Sleep Apnea and TMJ.

How is TMJ treated?

You can ease the symptoms of TMJ by yourself at home. The NHS recommends:

• Eating soft food, like pasta, omelettes and soup

• Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen

• Holding an ice pack or heat pack wrapped in a tea towel to the jaw

• Massaging the painful jaw muscles

• Trying to find ways to relax

However, you should ask for an urgent GP appointment if the problem is rendering you unable to eat or drink, or if you have difficulty opening your mouth fully or your jaw locks when you do.

If you also experience clicking, popping or grinding noises when you move your jaw; have pain around your jaw, ear or at the side of your head; have frequent, severe headaches, or pain or tenderness at the side of your head; or have vision problems, you should consult your doctor.

These can be signs of a serious problem that needs urgent treatment, the NHS says. Call 111 or get help from 111 online.

If you do see a GP for TMJ, the GP may recommend the following treatments:

• Stronger painkillers

• Relaxation techniques to reduce stress

• Ways to improve your sleep

• Seeing a dentist if teeth grinding is an issue

• Seeing a psychologist if stress and anxiety are exacerbating the problem

• Seeing a physiotherapist for advice about jaw exercises and massage

Read more about health and wellness:

• How waking up at 4am impacts your health, as Zoe Ball quits Radio 2 show (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

• Doctor shares 'instant headache relief' that works in just 30 seconds (SurreyLive, 2-min read)

• Method to stop teeth grinding at night developed by UK scientists (The Telegraph, 3-min read)