{"id":1253,"date":"2026-04-13T00:21:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fortdentaltx.com\/blog\/?p=1253"},"modified":"2026-05-04T00:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T18:25:26","slug":"gendered-jaws-are-women-more-likely-to-develop-tmd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fortdentaltx.com\/blog\/gendered-jaws-are-women-more-likely-to-develop-tmd\/","title":{"rendered":"Gendered Jaws: Are Women More Likely to Develop TMD?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Woman<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Your jawbone is connected to your skull via two joints known as your temporomandibular joints (TMJ)<\/a> that provide your mouth with a full range of motion. When these sliding discs are healthy, you can open and close your jaw, shift it side to side, or thrust your chin forward and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019re a woman and your jaw feels stiff or sore, you might have developed a disorder affecting these joints. You might even wonder whether your gender increases the risk of this condition. Continue reading to learn more about it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, occurs when your TMJ become overworked, which can trigger painful inflammation that limits your mouth\u2019s range of motion. This can have several potential causes, such as bruxism, which refers to a subconscious teeth-grinding habit that usually occurs at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it can also be caused by dental or bite misalignments, a physical injury, or periods of higher than usual stress. The longer it remains untreated, the more likely you are to experience consequences, such as persistent or severe discomfort, structural joint damage, worn-down enamel, headaches, clicking or popping in the jaw when you open your mouth, and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Women More Likely To Develop TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Studies have revealed that TMD is diagnosed more frequently in women than in men, specifically those who are of childbearing age, and that pain is one of the most common symptoms. There may be several reasons that females are more likely than males to develop this condition, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n