Hormonal Imbalances
Scientists believe that hormones can also affect your likelihood of developing TMJ disorder, although more research is needed to fully prove this theory. Women have higher levels of estrogen than men, and it is possible that estrogen could put additional stress on the brain. Specifically, estrogen may affect the pain receptors in the brain. This could make the pain of TMJ disorder more intense and uncomfortable for women, particularly women that have imbalanced estrogen levels. Another hormone that could correlate with TMJ disorder is progesterone. Progesterone levels affect your body’s ability to grow bone and cartilage. It’s possible that a lack of progesterone could result in a weaker TMJ joint, although more scientific evidence would be needed to fully prove this theory.