Exploring the Psychological Health Implications of Temporomandibular Disorder

Feedback from facial expressions can change our mood even to the degree of affecting mental health. Here it is explored whether temporomandibular disorders (TMD) – even if undiagnosed – impact wellbeing. TMD symptoms and mental health statuses were assessed for participants with and without a TMD diagnosis. Further, electromyography (EMG) measurements were recorded during facial movements and the impact of these facial actions on mental health status was examined. The impact of TMD facial exercises was also explored. TMD symptoms were found to correlate with depression and anxiety scores. The correlation between TMD symptoms and depression was significant even among the participants without a TMD diagnosis. For the TMD-diagnosed participants, performing a facial action reduced depression and anxiety, which correlated with larger facial muscle movements. The research strengthens the link between TMD and mental health and offers potential ways forward to improve the psychological consequences of this disorder.