What causes TMJ pain?
The temporomandibular joints sit just in front of your ears, where your lower jaw meets your skull. They are among the busiest joints in your body: every time you talk, chew, yawn or swallow, each side has to hinge and slide forward in a smooth, coordinated path. When one side stops moving in its preferred path, the chewing muscles spasm to protect it, and you feel pain, clicking or a jaw that will not open fully.
Both jaw joints have to work together. If one side hinges or glides less than the other, the jaw shifts as it opens, the joint can click or catch, and the muscles on that side work overtime. It is the same mechanical dysfunction we see in other joints, in a smaller space.
Many people clench during stress, concentration or sleep. Constant pressure tires and tightens the chewing muscles, leaving the jaw sore in the morning and the temples aching by the end of the day.
The jaw and the upper neck are closely linked. A forward head position from desk work changes how the jaw rests and loads the muscles under the jaw and at the base of the skull. Neck stiffness and jaw pain often travel together.
A blow to the jaw, whiplash, or holding your mouth open through a long dental appointment can strain the joint and leave it stiff or irritated. A big yawn or biting into something large can also set off symptoms.
Tension in the jaw muscles can refer pain into the temples, ear and teeth. If you have tension headaches as well as jaw pain, the two are often connected, and treating one helps the other.
Stress shows up in the jaw for many people, as clenching, a tight jaw at the end of the day or teeth pressed together without realizing it. When a joint is already irritated, that extra guarding keeps the muscles from ever fully relaxing, and the cycle continues.
