Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is associated with a nearly threefold increased risk of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), according to a case-control study.

Researchers say physicians and patients may overlook the association between chronic musculoskeletal diseases and gastrointestinal symptoms.

“Patients with both chronic TMD and reflux symptoms may be underdiagnosed, resulting in deferred effective treatment and a prolonged disease course,” they write.

The authors followed up on a case-control study from 2010 that linked the disorders to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), conducting a larger study including 1522 consecutive chronic TMD patients and 1522 controls from two hospitals in China.