TMJ/TMD & Jaw Pain: Common Causes, Symptoms, and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Jaw pain can affect much more than your ability to chew. TMJ/TMD can cause clicking or popping, headaches, facial pain, jaw stiffness, and difficulty opening or closing your mouth comfortably.
The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your jawbone to your skull and work together with the muscles of your jaw, face, and neck. When these joints or surrounding muscles aren't moving or functioning well, pain and other symptoms can develop.
Physical therapy can help address the movement, muscle, and postural factors contributing to TMJ/TMD so you can reduce pain and use your jaw more comfortably.
What Causes TMJ/TMD & Jaw Pain?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) describe a group of conditions affecting the jaw joints and surrounding muscles. Symptoms may develop gradually or appear after an injury or other change.
Common contributing factors can include:
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Muscle tension in the jaw, face, or neck
- Changes in jaw joint mobility
- Poor posture or prolonged head and neck positions
- Injury or trauma to the jaw
- Repetitive or excessive jaw use
- Stress-related muscle tension
Because jaw pain can have several possible causes, identifying what's contributing to your symptoms is an important part of determining the right treatment approach.
What Are the Signs of TMJ/TMD?
TMJ/TMD symptoms can vary, but common signs include:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Clicking, popping, or grinding in the jaw
- Difficulty or pain with chewing
- Jaw stiffness or limited opening
- Headaches or facial pain
- Pain around the ear or temple
- Jaw locking or catching
- Neck pain or muscle tension
Some people experience only occasional symptoms, while others develop persistent discomfort that interferes with eating, talking, sleeping, or daily activities.
How Can Physical Therapy Help TMJ/TMD?
Physical therapy for TMJ/TMD focuses on improving the movement and function of the jaw while addressing contributing issues in the surrounding muscles, neck, and posture.
After evaluating your symptoms, jaw movement, strength, mobility, posture, and other contributing factors, your physical therapist can develop an individualized treatment plan.
Treatment may include:
- Gentle jaw mobility exercises
- Manual therapy for the jaw and surrounding muscles
- Neck mobility and strengthening exercises
- Postural training
- Muscle relaxation techniques
- Jaw coordination exercises
- Education on habits that may aggravate symptoms
- A personalized home exercise program
The goal isn't simply to temporarily reduce discomfort. Physical therapy can help address the mechanical and muscular factors contributing to your symptoms and improve how your jaw functions during everyday activities.
When Should You Seek Help?
Occasional jaw clicking without pain doesn't always require treatment. However, persistent pain, limited movement, or symptoms that interfere with daily activities are worth having evaluated.
Consider seeking help if you're experiencing:
- Persistent or recurring jaw pain
- Pain while chewing or talking
- Difficulty opening your mouth normally
- Jaw locking or catching
- Frequent headaches associated with jaw tension
- Facial or neck pain occurring with jaw symptoms
- Symptoms that are getting worse or affecting your daily life
At Prosper, we'll evaluate how your jaw, neck, muscles, and movement patterns may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan based on what we find.
Whether your jaw pain recently started or you've been dealing with TMJ/TMD symptoms for months or years, physical therapy may help you move more comfortably and get back to everyday activities with less pain.
– Clinically reviewed by the Prosper Orthopedic Physical Therapy Team.
Common Types of TMJ/TMD & Jaw Pain
TMJ/TMD
Jaw Muscle Pain
Jaw Clicking or Popping
Limited Jaw Movement
Jaw Locking
Are You Experiencing TMJ/TMD & Jaw Pain?
TMJ/TMD and jaw pain can make everyday activities like eating, talking, yawning, or even sleeping comfortably difficult. Consider seeing a physical therapist if you’re experiencing:
- Jaw pain or tenderness around the TMJ
- Clicking, popping, or grinding when opening or closing your mouth
- Difficulty or pain when chewing, talking, or yawning
- Limited jaw movement or episodes of jaw locking
- Headaches, facial pain, or tension associated with jaw movement
Physical therapy can help reduce jaw pain, improve mobility, relieve muscle tension, and address the factors contributing to TMJ/TMD so you can get back to eating, speaking, and moving your jaw more comfortably.
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Frequently Asked Questions
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, while TMD describes conditions affecting the joint and surrounding muscles. Jaw pain can develop from muscle tension, teeth clenching or grinding, joint irritation, injury, stress, or problems with neck and jaw mechanics.
Yes. Physical therapy can help reduce jaw pain and muscle tension, improve jaw mobility, and address contributing problems in the neck, posture, and surrounding muscles. Treatment is personalized based on what is contributing to your symptoms.
Jaw clicking or popping can occur when the joint or the small disc inside the TMJ isn't moving smoothly. Clicking without pain isn't always a concern, but clicking accompanied by pain, locking, limited movement, or difficulty chewing may benefit from an evaluation.
Consider seeing a physical therapist if jaw pain, clicking, stiffness, headaches, difficulty chewing, limited mouth opening, or jaw locking is persistent or interfering with daily activities. A physical therapist can evaluate your jaw and surrounding muscles to determine what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Prosper Physical Therapy Specialists
100 Regency Forest Dr, Ste 130Cary, NC
27518-8597 View Staff & Treatments