Why India Is Seeing a Rise in TMJ Pain and Jaw Dislocations Among Youngsters? Doctors Explain Warning Signs

Sudden jaw dislocation videos circulating on social media may look dramatic, but health experts say the real crisis happens long before cameras start rolling. Temporomandibular Joint disorders, commonly known as TMJ issues, are increasingly affecting teenagers and young working professionals, especially in urban India.

According to Dr Tofiq Bohra, Craniofacial & TMJ Surgeon at SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim (A Fortis Associate), most of these incidents are preventable, but young adults often reach specialists when the damage is already advanced.

Young India’s Lifestyle Problem

Eight to ten hours at a desk, slouched shoulders, forward head posture and constant screen time, it is a familiar pattern. These mechanical habits tighten jaw muscles and strain TMJ ligaments, gradually weakening the joint.

Add workplace pressure, performance anxiety and sleeplessness, and the body enters a damaging cycle. Under stress, people clench or grind their teeth, usually unconsciously. “Over time, stress-related grinding causes ligament laxity. This makes the joint more unstable and vulnerable to displacement,” explains Dr Bohra.

Studies suggest that nearly one-third of working professionals in high-stress fields report TMJ symptoms including facial pain, stiffness and clicking.

Why Doctors Often Miss It

TMJ disorders are complex. They are not just physical; they involve biomechanics, stress patterns, sleep quality and behavioural habits. Many general practitioners focus on treating pain with medicines or splints rather than assessing deeper joint damage.

The real danger, says Dr Bohra, lies in delayed imaging. “Patients remain on conservative treatment for months without MRI or CBCT evaluation. By then, the disc displacement becomes structural, and the joint enters a degenerative phase.”

The Tipping Point: From Pain to Emergency

In early stages, TMJ issues cause mild clicking, jaw popping, or discomfort, signs often ignored. Without intervention, the joint becomes hypermobile. One wrong movement, yawning wide or biting food, can cause a full dislocation, the kind now appearing in viral clips.

Surgical treatment at this stage becomes harder. Recovery is slower, and recurrence risk increases significantly.

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India’s Training Gap Makes It Worse

Many Indian surgeons are not trained in advanced TMJ procedures such as arthroscopy. This results in delayed escalation from conservative to surgical treatment. What should be a two-month evaluation often drags into six, leaving patients with irreversible damage.

What Needs to Change

For Young Adults: Don’t ignore early symptoms, jaw stiffness, clicking, or pain. Correct posture, reduce stress, and consult a dentist if grinding or clenching becomes frequent.

• For Doctors: If symptoms don’t improve within 6–8 weeks of conservative treatment, MRI or CBCT scans should be initiated and referral to a TMJ specialist considered.
• For Healthcare Systems: More training, better specialist access, and affordable diagnostic imaging are urgently needed.

TMJ disorders are not rare anymore, they are becoming an urban health issue fuelled by modern living. As Dr Bohra notes, “Timely diagnosis prevents permanent joint damage. Awareness is the remedy before surgery becomes the only option.”

Early recognition, proper imaging, and timely referral can stop jaw dislocation cases from becoming the next viral spectacle, and protect young Indians from lifelong pain.

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Image Courtesy: Freepik