Memories of that recent fender-bender just won't go away and, as if car repairs and pending litigation weren't enough, now you're noticing persistent jaw pain, a symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The stress of the entire experience could be responsible for creating those symptoms in the first place, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.

Studies show that, although there is a relationship between neck pain and reported TMD symptoms, stress creates the link – not damage to the neck muscle.

Updated: November 2008