Jaw Pain (TMJ): Causes and Relief

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect the jaw joint and the muscles you use to chew. They’re common, often linked to clenching and stress, and usually improve with simple self-care.

Imagine waking every morning with an aching jaw and a headache by your temples. Your jaw clicks when you eat and you can’t open wide for a big sandwich. Your dentist spots worn teeth from night-time clenching. A mouth guard, jaw exercises and softer foods ease the pain within weeks.

Symptoms

• Pain around the jaw, ear or temple
• Clicking, popping or grating when opening the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide, or the jaw locking
• Headaches, especially in the morning
• Earache without an ear infection

Common causes

Clenching or grinding teeth (often during sleep or stress), chewing gum, poor posture, jaw injury and arthritis in the joint.

Self-care that helps

• Eat softer foods and cut food into small pieces
• Avoid chewing gum, biting nails and very wide yawns
• Use warm or cold packs on the jaw
• Keep teeth slightly apart and the jaw relaxed during the day (“lips together, teeth apart”)
• Gentle jaw stretches and massage
• Manage stress and check your posture at screens
• Short-term anti-inflammatory painkillers if suitable

But when should I get it checked?

See a dentist or doctor if pain lasts more than a few weeks, your jaw locks, or you can’t eat comfortably. A dentist can fit a night splint for grinding, and physiotherapy can help. Seek urgent care for jaw pain with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating, as it can be a sign of a heart attack, or for jaw pain with fever and swelling.

Sources: US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (TMD), NHS (Temporomandibular disorder), American Dental Association, Mayo Clinic.