TMJ- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is the name or acronym used to describe a collection of dental problems altogether; it is not merely just an isolated dental disorder by itself, but a group on a whole. The problems mainly involve the jaw, that is, the muscles and joints that are around the jaw. Some of the symptoms include having stiff jaw muscles- jaws that are difficult to move about due to the limited and restricted motion; painful popping or clicking in the joint of the jaw; pain while chewing, etc. TMJ is a very a painful and disconcerting disorder that leaves the person feeling uncomfortable and in extreme pain for an extended period of time. If not treated immediately then your jaw might suffer greater damage and actually come out of its natural alignment. This can lead to chronic teeth-grinding and jaw-popping discomforts that will eventually cause more deep-rooted problems in your dental area. Some causes of the disease include clenching teeth for a prolonged length of time, damage in the cartilage of the joint due to any traumatic event or medical causes like arthritis, dislocation of the jaw, or for many other reasons. But sometimes, the causes of TMJ can be unknown, and hence, treatment is not always easily available. So, because of the lack of available treatments, it is always better for you to be careful so as not to acquire the disease. As we all know, prevention is always better than cure, and since this particular disease doesn’t really have a permanent cure in the first place, you must take great care so that you don’t get yourself in a bad situation with TMJ. Some definite ways to avoid it are by taking special care to avoid any injuries to the jaw, any blows to the face, and by fighting the urge to clench your teeth even when under great stress or anger. If your jaw ever feels like its tightening up, then, according to dentists’ suggestions, relax and gently massage your jaw muscles for some time to avoid increasing the tension in the jaw bones- this is a small exercise that will help to relieve the tension from your jaws. Regular visits to the dentist will cover all of these small exercises and also help to maintain good dental health.