TMJ Pain Relief: Chiropractic Care for Jaw Pain

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect your lower jaw to your skull, one just in front of each ear. Each joint has a small cartilage disc that cushions it and lets the jaw both hinge and glide forward, so you can talk, chew, yawn and swallow.

When people say they "have TMJ," they usually mean a TMJ disorder (sometimes shortened to TMD). That's an umbrella term for problems with the jaw joints, the disc inside them or the chewing muscles around them. Most TMJ disorders are muscle-related, and many improve with simple, conservative care.

TMJ symptoms

Signs of a TMJ disorder can include:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw, on one or both sides
• Aching in or around the ear, temple or face
• Pain or tiredness when chewing
• Clicking, popping or grating when you open or close your mouth
• Limited opening, or a jaw that briefly catches or locks
• Headaches, and tension in the neck and shoulders

Jaw clicking on its own is common. If it isn't painful and doesn't limit how your jaw moves, it usually doesn't need treatment.

What causes TMJ disorders?

There often isn't a single cause. Several things can add up to muscle tension and joint irritation:

• Clenching or grinding your teeth, especially at night
• Stress, which tends to show up as clenching and tight jaw and neck muscles
• Injury to the jaw, face or neck, including from a car accident or whiplash
• Posture — a forward head position at a desk or on a phone changes how the jaw and neck muscles work
• Habits such as frequent gum chewing, nail biting or resting your chin in your hand
• Arthritis affecting the jaw joint
• Changes in the disc inside the joint, which can cause clicking or catching
• Bite problems, which your dentist can assess

TMJ and neck pain

The jaw and neck are closely linked. The muscles that hold your head up and the muscles that close your jaw work together, and pain from tight neck muscles can be felt in the face and jaw. Many people with jaw pain also have neck pain or tension-type headaches, and improving neck motion and posture can ease the load on the jaw. If headaches are a big part of your picture, see our page on migraine headaches.

How we assess jaw pain

Your first visit includes a full orthopedic and neurological exam. For jaw pain, we check how far and how straight your jaw opens, listen and feel for joint sounds, press on the chewing muscles to find tender spots, and assess your neck, upper back and posture.

There's no single test for TMJ disorders, so the diagnosis comes from your history and exam. Imaging is only needed in certain cases. If your symptoms point to a dental problem, arthritis or something else that needs another specialist, we'll refer you.

How a chiropractor can help TMJ

Chiropractic care for TMJ focuses on the joint, the muscles and the neck together. Depending on your exam, it may include:

• Gentle jaw mobilization to improve how the joint glides
• Soft-tissue work on the chewing muscles at the side of the jaw and temple, and on the neck and shoulders
• Chiropractic adjustments to the neck and upper back where stiffness is adding to muscle tension
• Massage therapy to release tension in the jaw, neck and shoulders
• Jaw exercises for controlled opening and relaxed jaw posture
• Posture and habit advice for desk work, phone use and sleep

We're happy to work alongside your dentist. If you grind or clench at night, a dentist-fitted night guard is often an important part of care, and our hands-on treatment can complement it. You can read more about our overall approach on our chiropractic treatment page.

TMJ relief you can try at home

• Rest the jaw: choose softer foods for a while, cut food into small pieces and avoid gum and very chewy foods
• Find a relaxed jaw position: lips together, teeth slightly apart and tongue resting on the roof of your mouth
• Use heat or cold: a warm compress can relax tight muscles; a cold pack may help after a flare
• Avoid wide opening: support your jaw with your hand when you yawn
• Notice daytime clenching and gently let it go
• Manage stress with regular exercise, breathing techniques or other relaxation habits

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help in the short term; follow the label.

When to see a dentist or seek urgent care

Call 911 if jaw pain comes with chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating or pain spreading down the arm, as jaw pain can be a sign of a heart attack.

Get prompt medical or dental care if:

• Your jaw is locked open or closed and you can't move it
• You have tooth pain, facial swelling or a fever, which can point to a dental infection
• Your bite suddenly changes after an injury to the face
• You're over 50 and have new jaw pain when chewing along with a headache at the temple, scalp tenderness or vision changes
• You notice numbness in the face or an unexplained lump

For everyday jaw pain, clicking and tension, a chiropractic exam is a reasonable first step. TMJ disorders are one of the many conditions we treat.