And Why Doctors Keep Missing It Most people have never heard of TMJD. Yet it affects more people than asthma, diabetes, or depression. It is one of the most common chronic pain disorders in the UK — and one of the least understood. TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder) is often dismissed as “jaw pain,” but the reality is far more serious. It can cause migraines, ear pain, dizziness, facial numbness, neck stiffness, tooth damage, sleep disruption, and in severe cases, jaw locking that leaves people unable to eat or speak. Despite this, TMJD remains under‑diagnosed, under‑treated, and dangerously underestimated. This is…