Let's Face It: Chiropractic Care Can Help Relieve Your Jaw Pain

We don’t often think about our jaw - until one day, a simple yawn or bite of breakfast is met with an unexpected click or a sharp twinge of pain. It’s a common area of discomfort that many experience and often accept as part of their day to day aches and pains. Jaw pain, popping, tension, and sometimes, headaches are all common symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction (sometimes referred to as TMD). Fortunately, there are non-invasive, holistic options to help relieve the pain so ignoring or dealing with discomfort doesn’t have to become a part of your daily ritual.

Let's walk through TMJ pain, including common causes, how chiropractic care can help, as well as other collaborative healthcare providers.

What is Your TMJ - And Why Does it Hurt?

The TMJ is the hinge-like joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull (temporal bone), allowing you to open, close, protract, retract and shift your jaw side to side. Problems, or dysfunction, can arise when any part of the joint, muscles around the jaw or nerves are strained, either due to clenching, grinding, trauma, repetitive or aggressive chewing, or even, opening your mouth too wide.

Symptoms can include:

  • Jaw pain or tenderness

  • Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds

  • Headaches

  • Ear or face pain

  • Limited jaw movements

  • Neck tension

Different Causes of Jaw Pain

While TMD due to muscle tension or overuse is one of the most common culprits, jaw pain isn’t always straightforward. Other causes can include:

  • Dental issues such as misaligned bites, wisdom teeth problems, or tooth abscesses

  • Sinus or ear issues such as sinus pressure, infections, or swelling

  • Postural strain such as a forward head posture that can pull on tight neck muscles and alter jaw mechanics

  • Stress-related habits such as subconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth

  • Arthritic changes in the TMJ joint itself

With one or more of the above as part of the cause, it is important that a thorough assessment is performed to reach a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

How Chiropractic Care Supports TMJ Pain

Chiropractic care offers a gentle yet comprehensive approach to restoring alignment, reducing tension, and promoting better function in the jaw and surrounding structures. Management includes a combination of the following:

  • Thorough Assessment & Functional Diagnosis
    We take the time to understand the cause(s) of your jaw pain and whether the pain is primarily muscular in nature, joint-based, or related to your neck and posture. Chiropractors will also dive into your health and dental history to understand if a referral may be needed for causes that are not musculoskeletal in nature.

  • Soft Tissue Therapies
    Tight muscles around the jaw and neck respond well to targeted release, stretching, and intraoral (inside the mouth) techniques, when indicated. Chiropractors may use manual approaches, facial cupping and even acupuncture to tailor care to your needs.

  • Gentle Adjustments
    Adjustments to the cervical spine (neck), or the jaw specifically, can help restore movement and relieve pressure. Based on your comfort level, this may involve a manual, hands-on adjustment or one using a targeted instrument.

  • Targeted Exercises & Rehabilitation
    Simple at-home exercises can help retrain movement and build long-term solutions to keep your pain and tension at bay.

  • Education & Behavioural Strategies
    By understanding the causes and aggravating events related to your jaw discomfort, simple education can help you make small daily changes that help sustain long-term pain relief.

Collaboration With Other Healthcare Providers

Jaw pain can stem from multiple sources - that is why our chiropractors work closely with other professionals to provide the best outcomes. This collaborative may include:

  • Dentists for bite assessments, splints, night guards, or other management techniques of teeth grinding

  • Physiotherapists for additional muscle retraining techniques and rehabilitation strategies

  • Registered Massage therapists for additional soft tissue care

  • Medical doctors, neurologists or ENT specialists for cases where imaging, blood work or other investigations may be warranted

At Bright, we take an evidence-based, patient-centred approach to TMJ care. Using a whole-body perspective, we address not only the jaw, but also the neck, posture, and daily habits that contribute to discomfort. By collaborating with other providers - such as dentists or physiotherapists - we can create a comprehensive care plan that supports your jaw health from every angle, so you can yawn, chew, and smile with ease.

For more information on chiropractic care for the management of TMD, book a complimentary 15-minute meet and greet with one of our Bright chiropractors.

WRITTEN BY: DR. KARISHMA KAPOOR, DC

Disclaimer

The advice provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is meant to augment and not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Consultation with a chiropractor or other primary care provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.

Crystal Draper