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TMJ Pain: What Is It and What To Do About It

Written by Gurinder Boparai, DC

Published 10/06/2026

The temporomandibular joint, also known as TMJ, is a gliding hinge-type joint that connects the jaw and the skull bones. We have one on each side of our heads in front of the ears.

TMJ pain typically refers to pain in the jaw joint or the muscles that help us chew, often both. It is a common problem that can affect more women and is best understood as a multifactorial pain condition, not just a single issue.

Credit: Stephen Okonkwo / unsplash. Model portrayal.

Content

What is TMJ pain?

Most common TMJ symptoms

What causes TMJ pain?

TMJ and neck pain

TMJ and the pelvic floor

Can chiropractic care help with TMJ pain?

What can mimic TMJ pain?

Summary

FAQ

What is TMJ Pain?

TMJ issues usually refer to a broader group of more than 30 conditions called temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). It may or may not involve pain and can affect the jaw joint, the muscles that help you chew, and other nearby structures. Some people also might only experience issues on one side, while others might have TMJ problems on both sides.

Pain can come from the muscles, the joint itself, or myofascial trigger points that create deep, dull, or referred pain. Some people describe that pain as soreness, which can be a dull, achy, constant pain, while others might only notice it when doing certain aggravating activities.

You can feel the TMJ by placing your fingers on either side of the jaw, just in front of the ears and opening your mouth. This joint has fluid and a disc that help it move smoothly, as well as muscles that attach to and around the joint. These muscles allow the jaw to move up and down, side to side, and forward and back. 

What are the most common TMJ symptoms?

TMJ symptoms often include:

  • jaw pain, soreness, or stiffness

  • muscle tenderness

  • clicking or popping

  • limited mouth opening

  • A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together 

  • Pain that gets worse with chewing, talking, clenching, or other jaw use

It might be a combination of symptoms or just one or two. Occasional clicking or popping without pain is common and typically does not require treatment. Many people also notice headaches, ear symptoms, or pain that feels like it sits in front of the ear rather than in the teeth. Within the scope of TMD, there are three broad categories: 

  1. Disorders of the joint. This includes joint pain (arthralgia), bone destruction/degenerative joint disease, and disc disorders.  

  2. Disorders of the muscles we use to help us chew (muscles of mastication). This pain can be located in one area that gets worse with applied pressure, known as myalgia, or pain that spreads or is felt in other areas of the body. Referred TMJ pain is pain in areas far away from the TMJ and can be due to nerve pathway convergence, the brain confusing signals, or due to misinterpretation of signals from other body structures. 

  3. Headaches associated with TMD.

What causes TMJ pain?

TMJ pain usually develops from a mix of factors rather than one single cause. Jaw injury, overuse, clenching, parafunction, stress-related muscle tension, pain sensitivity, sleep problems, and psychological strain can also be part of the problem. Symptoms may begin without an obvious underlying cause. 

TMJ symptoms can last for a short period and go away on their own with minimal to no intervention, such as by eating soft foods, applying heat/cold to the face, and managing stress. However, sometimes, it may become a long-lasting chronic issue, compounded over time.

For example, TMD may occur together with headaches, neck pain, sleep disorders, back pain, and fibromyalgia, which can be chronic on their own without adding TMD into the mix. Therefore, earlier intervention is often recommended to identify possible underlying factors and to address them as soon as possible. 

As mentioned, TMD is more common in women compared to men, raising the question of whether TMJ structure and function and other biological differences between the sexes may play a role. However, TMD in women is poorly understood, and more research is required.

Treatment aimed only at fixing the bite or one factor does not match the way TMJ cases typically present. Conservative care, involving manual therapy to stretch the soft tissue and muscles around the joint and mobilize the jaw joints, is the usual starting point, as it can help improve function and relieve pain.

Chiropractors and physiotherapists are manual therapists who use their hands to help assess, diagnose, maintain, improve, and restore movement to the TMJ, emphasizing pain relief, jaw function, and daily habits through a personalized care plan rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment.

Can TMJ and neck problems be connected?

Yes. TMJ and neck symptoms often overlap, although the exact mechanisms are not fully known. Many describe anatomical, biomechanical, and neurophysiological links between the jaw and neck region, and patients with TMD often show reduced neck motion, neck muscle tenderness, or higher TMJ pain levels when neck pain is also present. 

Neck posture can influence jaw function during mouth opening, chewing, and swallowing, and looking down for long periods has been described as one factor that can make TMJ pain worse. 

Is there a link between TMJ and the Pelvic floor?

There is a possible functional link between the TMJ and the pelvic floor. For instance, one study in young women found that a single 15-minute TMJ soft tissue session lowered resting pelvic floor muscle activity, which could suggest a short-term interaction between the regions. 

Other studies have reported correlations between orofacial findings, bruxism, pelvic symptoms, and stress-related patterns, and some authors place both regions within border myofascial connections.

In summary, TMJ problems and pelvic floor issues can coexist, possibly through shared tension, stress, and bodywide movement patterns. However, the evidence does not show an exact cause-and-effect for every patient. Therefore, the link between the TMJ and pelvic floor cannot be generalized for every patient. Instead, each person requires their own personalized assessment and plan for care. 

Can chiropractic care help with TMJ pain?

For TMJ pain, chiropractic care fits best as part of the conservative neuromusculoskeletal component of care, especially when jaw symptoms overlap with neck stiffness, posture issues, muscle tension, and headache patterns.

Manual therapy, exercise, and physical rehabilitation have been associated with lower pain and better jaw and neck function in people with TMD. Many people may begin to notice a reduction in pain and symptoms after the first few treatments. Oftentimes, such as for chronic TMJ issues, more sessions delivered regularly may be required before you begin to notice a difference in symptoms. 

A chiropractor can assess how the jaw, neck, posture, and muscle tension may be interacting. Persistent or atypical cases may require interprofessional collaboration, such as with dentists, psychologists, and medical doctors. For personal treatment decisions, a licensed clinician should determine whether symptoms fit a routine TMD pattern or require dental, medical, or imaging workup. 

What can mimic TMJ pain?

Some pain feels like it’s coming from the jaw joint but actually begins in a different area. These conditions are often referred to as TMD mimics, or non-TMD causes of orofacial pain. Common examples include:

  • Tooth problems

  • Sinus problems

  • Ear conditions

  • Nerve pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia

  • Headache disorders

  • Infection or inflammation in or around the joint

  • A space occupying lesion, growth or tumour

  • A long stylohyoid bone (a small bone below the ear) or hardened ligament, which can refer pain to the jaw and ear

Since these conditions can look similar, a proper assessment matters. Pain that doesn’t change when you chew, talk, or open your jaw is one reason clinicians look beyond the joint. If your pain doesn’t fit the usual pattern, or if it’s severe, constant, or even getting worse, see your medical doctor.

The bottom line on managing TMJ pain

TMJ pain is often manageable with chiropractic or other conservative care. TMJ pain can involve structures other than just the jaw, and a careful assessment of the jaw, neck, and head should be completed to rule out other causes of pain, especially when involving symptoms that do not follow the usual TMD pattern.

FAQ

When should I be worried about jaw pain?

Most jaw pain is more annoying than dangerous, but a few signs alert you not to wait. 

Call 911 or emergency responders if your jaw pain comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating or pain spreading into your arms.

Get seen quickly by a doctor or emergency department if: 

  • Your jaw is stuck closed 

  • You have swelling, redness, or a fever near the jaw

  • You have a sudden, severe headache, such as the worst headache of your life, or changes in your vision 

  • The pain started after a fall or a hit to the head/face 

See a dentist if the pain seems to come from a tooth or the gums. 

If the pain has lasted more than a few weeks or keeps coming back, it’s worth getting checked out. A chiropractor can assess your jaw, chewing muscles, and neck and refer you to another provider as needed. 

What is the 3-finger test for jaw pain?

The 3-finger test is a quick way to check how wide your jaw opens. 

Stand in front of a mirror and stack your index, middle and ring fingers on top of each other, flat, like a small three-story tower. Then open your mouth and see if you can slide them vertically between your top and bottom teeth, up to the first joint of your fingers. 

If you can fit three fingers comfortably, your jaw is opening about as wide as most people’s. If you can’t or it hurts, catches, or pulls to one side as you open, it’s worth getting checked. This is a rough screen, not a diagnosis. Hand sizes vary, and a tight jaw can have several causes, so it can’t tell you what’s wrong. 

If your jaw is locked or you suddenly can’t open it after an injury, get medical care promptly.

How do you relieve jaw pain?

Jaw pain often settles with simple self-care. Here’s what's worth trying. 

At home:

  • Eat softer food for a while, and skip gum and very chewy foods

  • Avoid yawning or opening very wide when you can 

  • Try a warm or cold pack on the sore area for no more than 10 minutes 

  • Notice whether you clench or grind your teeth. Many people do it without realizing, and keeping your teeth apart and your jaw relaxed can help 

  • Wind down stress where you can. Jaw tension and stress often travel together. 

Seek care with a professional early and as needed. If pain is severe, not getting better, or keeps getting worse, do get it checked out. If your jaw locks, or the pain comes with other symptoms in your body, such as a severe headache, fever, or shortness of breath, just to name a few, don’t wait and get medical help. 

What causes pain in the jaw on one side?

Most often it’s the jaw joint or chewing muscles on that side. Pain can come from clenching or grinding, chewing mostly on one side, or an old injury. Other causes include a tooth or gum problem, an ear or sinus infection, or arthritis in the joint. 

Less often, one-sided jaw pain points to something that requires urgent care. A sudden severe headache, a vision change, chest pressure, shortness of breath, or sudden sweating without known cause can indicate a medical emergency. 

If it keeps coming back or lasts more than a few weeks, get it checked. A chiropractor can assess the jaw and neck and refer you to a dentist or medical doctor if the cause and treatment are outside their scope of practice.

What are the symptoms of TMJ infection? 

A true infection of the jaw joint can be rare. However, when it does happen, it tends to come on over a few days with pain in front of the ear, swelling over the joint, and trouble opening your mouth. The area may also look red, and your bite can feel off, or your jaw can pull to one side. A fever may also happen, though one can still have an infection without a fever. 

Since infection can damage the joint if it’s missed or worsens, treat these signs as urgent, and even if you suspect you may have an infection, seek medical care promptly. Don’t wait for it to settle on its own. 

Who should I go to if I have jaw pain?

It depends on what’s going on, but your chiropractor, dentist, or medical doctor is a good starting point if you’re not sure. 

  • Chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, a locked jaw, severe headache, or swelling with a fever: Call 911 and seek emergency care.  

  • Pain that seems to come from a tooth or gum: See a dentist. 

  • Ear symptoms or hearing changes along with jaw pain: See a medical doctor. 

  • Aching in the jaw joint or muscles that help you chew, or jaw and neck pain: A chiropractor or other licensed manual/physical therapist can assess the joint, muscles, and neck and help create a personalized care plan. A chiropractor can refer you to another professional healthcare provider as needed. 

This article is general information and is not medical advice. It cannot replace a professional assessment of your own situation. Talk to your chiropractor or another regulated health professional about the benefits and risks of any treatment before you start anything.

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