When people think about the causes of headaches, the jaw is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. However, problems involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the surrounding muscles can contribute to headaches in some people.
If your headaches occur alongside jaw symptoms such as clicking, clenching, stiffness, or pain, the TMJ may be worth investigating.
Understanding the Connection
The TMJ sits just in front of your ears and allows you to talk, chew, yawn, and swallow. The muscles that control jaw movement attach around the cheeks, temples, and sides of the head, which means irritation in this area can sometimes be felt as a headache.
When the joint or surrounding muscles become overloaded, pain may be referred to nearby areas, making it difficult to identify where the problem is actually coming from.
For some people, the headache may feel like pressure around the temples. Others describe aching around the ears, forehead, or sides of the face.
Common TMJ Symptoms
People experiencing a TMJ disorder often report more than just jaw pain.
Symptoms may include:
- Facial muscle tension
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Clicking or popping in the jaw
- Pain around the jaw joint
- Difficulty chewing
- Jaw stiffness
- Locking or catching of the jaw
The combination of symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching
One of the most common contributors to TMJ-related headaches is clenching or grinding the teeth.
Some people notice they clench their jaw during stressful situations throughout the day, while others do so during sleep without realising it.
People who clench or grind their teeth often report:
- Waking with a sore jaw
- Morning headaches
- Tightness around the temples
- Jaw fatigue
- Tender facial muscles
- Tooth wear identified by their dentist
Over time, the extra workload placed on the jaw muscles can contribute to tension and discomfort that extends into the head and neck.
How the Jaw, Neck & Headaches are Connected
It’s difficult to separate the jaw from the neck. The muscles that control these areas constantly work together during everyday activities such as talking, eating, and maintaining posture.
Neck stiffness can influence the way the jaw moves, while jaw dysfunction can contribute to increased tension throughout the neck and shoulders.
This relationship is one reason why many people with TMJ disorders also experience neck pain, and why successful treatment often considers both areas rather than focusing solely on the jaw.
Headaches can have many different causes, but there are some signs that suggest the TMJ may be involved, including:
- Headaches occurring alongside jaw pain
- Clicking or popping in the jaw
- Jaw stiffness, particularly in the morning
- Clenching or grinding habits
- Tenderness around the temples
- Pain when chewing
- Headaches that worsen during stressful periods
While these symptoms do not guarantee the TMJ is responsible, they may indicate that the jaw is contributing to the problem.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
A physiotherapy assessment looks at how the jaw, neck, and surrounding muscles are functioning together.
This may involve assessing jaw movement, muscle tension, posture, neck mobility, and factors such as clenching or grinding.
Treatment is tailored to the individual and may include hands-on therapy, exercises, movement retraining, postural advice, and practical strategies to reduce unnecessary stress on the jaw. These treatments can be used in conjunction with the use of devices prescribed by a dentist, such as mouth guards (which are often used at night to protect your teeth). You don’t require a referral from a dentist or doctor to see a physiotherapist, and we will communicate with any other health professional you are seeing for this problem.
For many people, addressing these contributing factors can improve comfort and reduce strain on the muscles involved.
Our physiotherapists have undertaken further training in neck pain, jaw pain and headaches to be able to assess what’s causing the problem, and treat the issue effectively.
Could Your Jaw Be Contributing to Your Headaches?
Headaches can have many different causes, and the jaw is just one possible contributor. However, if headaches occur alongside jaw pain, clicking, stiffness, clenching, or neck tension, a TMJ assessment may help identify whether the jaw is playing a role.
Understanding how the jaw and neck are working together can provide valuable insight into ongoing symptoms and help guide appropriate treatment and management strategies.
If you need help with your TMJ, neck pain, or headaches you can book with one of our Physios who have additional training in TMJ treatment, you can:
