Nail Biting, Gum Chewing, and Habits That May Cause TMJ

I'm one lucky soul out there that has the opportunity of waking up every morning to kneck pain cause by TMJ. For those out there not lucky enough to know what TMJ stands for you should be on your knees praying to the heavens above. TMJ or in professional terms, Temporomanibular Joint Disorders, cause pain in the kneck and jaw area of your body. It sounds like a clicking, popping, or in my case a crunching sound under my ears. For years I didn't know what it was until I went to my dentist and was diagnosed with this condition.

TMJ can cause severe kneck and shoulder pain along with jaw pain. There are many causes to this condition but a few habits some of us should quit can cause it also. I'm a nail biter.


  • Teeth/ Jaw Clenching

  • Teeth Grinding

  • Lip Biting

  • Nail Biting

  • Gum Chewing

  • Sleeping on your jaw/ side sleeping

For now I sleep with a mouth gaurd at night and hoping that this helps the pain some. Does anyone out there also suffer from this pain and how do you cope?