Zoe Ball reveals the pain of TMJ disorder

According to the Royal College of Surgeons, 1 in 15 people in the UK suffer from temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This condition affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and can cause various symptoms, including the headaches which Zoe Ball experiences.

What is your temporomandibular joint (TMJ)?

This is the joint which connects your jawbone to your skull, you have one on each side of your jaw. It acts like a sliding hinge which moves as you open and close your mouth.

The masseter muscle (the superficial layer of which is shown in the diagram above) controls the opening and closing of your mouth. It’s one of the main muscles involved in chewing. In fact, the name “masseter” comes from the Greek “massētēr” which means “to chew”.

What is TMD (or TMJ disorder)?

TMD, or Temporomandibular Disorder, is a condition affecting the TMJ and impacts the movement of your jaw. While not a medically serious condition, it can cause a range of debilitating symptoms, including:

• Pain affecting your jaw, ears and temples (one side or both).
• Noises (such as clicking or grating) when you move your jaw.
• Discomfort when trying to fully open your mouth or chew food.
• Your jaw “locking” so it becomes difficult to open or close your mouth.

TMJ disorder is often associated with an enlarged (hypertrophic) masseter jaw muscle. This can cause the jaw shape to become wider and squarer, resulting in a more masculine profile. The muscle can also become enlarged on one side only, giving you a lopsided appearance.

There are various causes of TMD, including genetic propensities, jaw injuries or damage caused by arthritis. It’s also associated with the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, although not everyone who does this goes on to develop TMD.

Zoe Ball’s experience of TMD

Despite her cheery demeanour hosting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, writing on Instagram Zoe reveals:

I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension & jaw clenching.

@zoetheball

She shared before and after photos of her TMJ treatment, and you can see a noticeable difference in the size of masseter jaw muscle between the two images.

Many followers responded to her post, sharing their own experiences of TMJ disorder, with some explaining how botox treatment has helped them.

I have tmj it is awful. I have botox in my massester muscles which really helps.

@nt50nicola

Botox treatment for TMJ disorder

TMD is often associated with an enlarged masseter muscle, in particular where the root cause is clenching or grinding teeth.

Botox is a highly effective treatment to relax the masseter muscle, thereby greatly reducing the symptoms of TMJ disorder.

When we treat TMD, we target botox injections directly into the masseter muscle. This reduces the activity of the muscle, and over time it shrinks back to its natural size. The result is both a reduction in symptoms and a softening of the jawline profile.

The treatment takes just a few minutes, with most patients requiring two treatments approximately eight weeks apart. The results can last for up to six months.

Visit us for TMJ disorder treatment

Our masseter jaw botox treatment is available at our London Harley Street, Huntingdon, Sevenoaks and Peterborough clinics.

Prior to treatment you will be thoroughly assessed by one of our medical experts, to ensure that the treatment is appropriate for your condition.

For more information, please call us on 0330 024 1300 or email info@meliorclinics.co.uk. If you’re ready to book an appointment, you can either contact us or book online.