What os causing my tmj to hurt after chewing food?

Exam Necessary: You really need to see your dentist for a full exam; the TMJ is a complex joint and there are many factors that can cause this. One common factor is called "nocturnal bruxism". This is a phenomenon where a patient grinds their teeth at night, they may not even know they do. It places pathological stresses on the TMJ and that discomfort can be exacerbated by heavy chewing. Stop chewing gum too!

Muscle or joint: If your TMJ is hurting after chewing food the pain is probably coming from the muscles, but it could also be your joint. Put your finger where you feel the pain and bite down gently. If you feel the muscle beneath your fingers, the pain is probably from the muscle. If you fingers are over the joint and your feel pain it is probalby the joint. Talk to your dentist about proper care.

Overloading the join: If you have TMJ symptoms the likelihood is that there is joint inflammation present. Chewing hard or tough food or opening to wide will aggravate the inflammation and result in pain. Try a softer diet, warm compresses, avoid gum chewing and limit how wide you open. These self help actions will reduce the joint stress. Then, see your dentist for a thorough exam.

Complex question: Complex question. You need an evaluation by an oral surgoen to help answer your questions.