Due to a number of recent client questions about the jaw, we thought we would dedicate a blog to more information (please write back if you have other specific questions) …
Are your jaw muscles tight and sore?
You may be surprised to know that the strongest and hardest working joint in the body is the jaw or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It is almost constantly working, when we talk, chew or clench. With upwards of a couple of thousand movements each day, it comes as no surprise that some of the muscles we use in moving our jaw can become overworked and sore.
Tightness in the jaw is a common problem, and can lead to jaw or tooth pain, jaw clicking or teeth grinding, problems chewing, headaches, dizziness, earaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), eye pain or irritation and / or neck pain. And can often result in poor sleep, constant pain or discomfort and a general disturbance to your quality of life.
Most commonly, the masseter muscles around the jaw and the temporalis muscles up into your temples (superficially), and the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles (inside the mouth) are the culprits.
The medial and lateral pterygoid muscles are inside the mouth and with pressure, generally are very painful. Because of their difficult location, accessing them from inside the mouth (along the jawbone, behind the teeth; behind the teeth and backwards, towards the joint itself; and up underneath cheekbone), they are best assessed and treated by a professional.
Fortunately it is relatively easy to massage the superficial muscles yourself so long as you know where to work. And once this tension is released, headaches and neck pain etc. will often subside. A few techniques are offered at the end.
Some things to be mindful of, especially if pain continues, are that constant tension in these muscles can lead to the jaw being disarticulated, and that jaw pain can also be caused by malocclusion of the jaw (incorrect “bite”). While tension in the skull itself (from previous trauma, growth spurts and even pressures occurring at birth) can cause this, the feet and other factors affecting posture can also. These more complex conditions, can be assisted by some very specific dental devices. And the effectiveness of this treatment can often be speed up by reducing the associated tissue (membrane, ligament and muscle) irritation, supporting movement of the bones themselves into better alignment using gentle cranial osteopathic techniques and balancing postural factors using remedial massage and osteopathy and the like.
Ultimately we believe that a personalised combination of dental devices, postural and foot assessment, osteopathic treatment, remedial massage and possibly even soft proprioceptive innersoles, as well as self massage and relaxation techniques are often required for complete resolution of jaw tension and pain, especially in stubborn cases.
I have all 5 symptoms shown under “EARS” in your diagram. Please direct me to a resource that I can begin educating myself. DR’s have not been able to diagnose, they all say “allergies” yet test prove to be inconclusive.
Hi Mike, do you have any of the jaw symptoms – pain, clicking, discomfort? The ear symptoms can be difficult and requires further information and investigation. Have the Drs performed any neurological exams, hearing tests or other special tests to determine a clear diagnosis?
Can I email you directly to see how I can better understand your situation and assist you?
Hi,
I have all but 7 symptoms listed on the chart. Do you think I may have tmj? I have been checked by multiple drs. Who have perscribe me medication, most have not worked and others kinda numb pain but I’m still constantly dizzy/ migraines I have gone to neurologist and ear and throat specialist who say everything is normal except I have bad posture and just migraines. Nothing has helped I’ve done physio and acupuncture. The only thing I havent tried is dentist and chiropractor because of cost. I’ve been suffering with constant/ daily dizziness for 3yrs and migraine/headaches/ teeth pain for 10. Is there anything you may suggest
Hi Sonee, Daily dizziness – you need your inner ear checked! The dizziness may be due to postural and jaw strain, which a chiro/osteo will be able to help with. But, it may be due to an inner ear issue. There are some osteopaths etc who do check for BPPV (a form of dizziness due to positioning of crystals in the inner ear and potentially easily fixed), it may be structural or viral in origin, affecting the inner ear. This needs to be diagnosed to see extend of damage and determine what needs to be done. If it is TMJ, you may need an orthodontic splint to align the bite so that your nervous system isn’t constantly in overdrive as well as osteo/chiro treatment to support your body to rebalance and reduce tension that is adding to your pain. TMJ can be involved in dizziness issues, but is not the cause of dizziness, so there is definitely something else going on. I’m happy to chat more personally if you’d like more assistance!
I have all 7 i have tmj its painful cant find a dentist in my area that specializes in it
Hi Jamie, sorry to hear that! Maybe you can look for a Holistic Dentist, or start with a Cranial Osteopath, they can help you with realignment, pain relief and home support, plus they may have a connection to a Dentist you can try.
Jamie – how are you going with your jaw pain? Have you been able to find an osteopath, massage therapist, physio or chiro who can assist you with the pain and tension and support you in finding a dentist – if required?
Wow, I knew my jaw and neck were off but didn’t attribute every one of these symptoms to one source. I get terrible headaches, that cause tearing up in my hearts rythm. I don’t suffer from allergies but I cough phlegm all day. My bite is bad, very severe crossbite where my milers barely make contact. My first molars are gone in the notttom, having been born without them and my parents beginning orthodontic works at a young age but never completing it.
I do get very dizzy w lot and notice my balance can be off. I found this site after my first time
Experiencing a throbbing pain at the base of some bone structure behind my ear… touching the inside of my ear is painful but Tempe source if the pain is not possible for me to locate
I am very poor and find this a huge burden, almost like it’s keeping m me from progressing in life to a position where I can get necesssry jaw surgeries. Forgive me for the disorganized speaking but any input at all would be appreciated.
I’m wondering what sort3 of things would be covered as medical necessity/ as this is perpetuallyy painful throughout my face.., I often am knocking my facial bones in something hard for relief and backfiring is the only thing that keeps me from excruciating pains. My voice lost most of its range and is very airy, which handicaps me greatly from singing
Dereck, that sounds aweful! Where are you located? As medical resources are different everywhere! I would expect that you would need a very experienced orthodontist, maybe a prosthodontist. Getting correct imaging, molds and splints made is not cheap, but to really fix the situation, I expect you’ll need it. Then on top of that, I would recommend a cranial osteopath to help assist the orthodontic work and in itself improve circulation, tension, function and comfort. A cranial osteopath can assist with the facial pain that you are experiencing as well as getting the jaw to work better…
Please look into mcas. And histamine intolerance as well as cervical spine instability.
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Thank you so much for your feedback, Hildegard!
I have majority of the symptoms listed above. Im currently seeing a physio for TMJ, who is also helping with issues with vertigo as well and posture.
Hi Fiona, thanks for showing that our blog is of interest to you! I’m glad you have found a Physio and that they are helping you!
We also assist with posture, it is a component in the majority of issues we treat.
Vertigo is not a purely neuro-musculo-skeletal issue and as such Osteopaths, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists cannot suggest that we are able to help in such cases. That being said, many of us have had clients with vertigo who seem to have had improvements, though we cannot suggest that we will be able to help in such cases. I have in fact done additional training in assessing and assisting in dizziness cases. Though this is an area of interest it is a continued education series of courses only, not a government recognised course with any specific qualifications.
Just for completeness, it is important that if someone suffers from vertigo or some form of dizziness that they seek the assistance of a qualified health professional, including testing by a GP and possibly also further tests.
If dizziness or vertigo is combined with other symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness, difficulty speaking or swallowing – then it is important that you call 000 straight away!
Appгeciate the reсommendation. Will try it out.
Great Bettie! Please do and let us know how you go!
I have everything but bulging eyes.
Tim, if you have that many symptoms, it sounds like it would be good to see a Dr or health professional to get a good history, understanding of your symptoms and do some tests to identify what is going on. There are few possibilities, so a complete check up is warranted If you would like to chat, feel free to email or call.
I have almost all of these symptoms, it started after a dental apt when i had severe pain keeping my mouth open during the cleaning, a few days later i started to get a numb/tingling feeling on the left side of my face near nose and mouth, tingling comes and goes and is always on the left side of face but not always in the same region. My jaw also clicks when i open and close and my back teeth have become painful, i notice i am always clenching my jaw and my left neck and shoulder have been giving me a lot of issues. Seems to be worse at work when on the computer and sitting at the desk. I went to a NP and she referred me to neurology however this was for the numbness and tingling in the face, the other symptoms presented after. Some days its better, some days it worse however the jaw tightness (clenching) always seems to be there. Is neurology who i should be seeing for this or is there a better option. Neurology is at least 12 weeks out for new referrals.
Hi Al, That sounds most painful and concerning for you! Have you spoken to the dentist about what happened? Also, did you have jaw clicking and/or clenching before that dental cleaning? It may be useful to see a Neurologist to check the Trigeminal nerve, however, it is also possible that by reducing the tension in your upper neck (where it meets the head) and jaw muscles may be enough to stop the nerve irritation/compression. I would keep the neurologist appointment, but in the time before the appointment, see an osteopath/chiropractor/physiotherapist who works a lot with the jaw/TMJ. I would recommend a cranial osteopath if possible. You can also gently do some of the techniques described in the downloadable document (let me know if you have any issues accessing or using it). You may also require or find useful a dentist who uses micro-alignment of the mouth and bite to take the pressure off the TMJ, using a specialised mouth splint or device. But I would suggest this after you get support with posture and muscle release from the above-mentioned types of therapists and after checking with the neurologist. I hope all improves well and quickly! Let me know how you go!
Hi there, I have 19 of the symptoms. I always have the jaw locking/popping and always have a stiff neck and neck/back pain but when I’m stressed it’s horrendous. My jaw face and neck are horrendously painful. Any tips on what may help in times of stress.
Hi Rachael, that sounds incredibly difficult! During periods of high stress, I would suggest a relaxation visualization technique and meditations on a regular basis. You can self massage and even add pain relieving essential oils- massaging into your jaw, temples and neck. I would recommend that during periods of less stress, you find a natural dentist who specialises in minute jaw alignment/correction, in order to begin taking the pressure off your nervous system from your teeth and jaw. Also, seeing a physical practitioner to help you to realign your posture, and balance your muscles as well as release tension and stress. Hopefully this is helpful (I apologize for the delay in answering!). If you would like to discuss further, please feel free to email
I have basically every symptom on this chart, I would love some help.
Hi Ian, what sort of help are you asking for? How can I assist you to get what you need? If you would like to email us, we can assist you more specifically… Have you tried any of the solutions in the download yet? Have they helped?
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I have recently had fillings on both sides near the back of mouth. A week after the fillings, I got a severe migraine, sinus pressure, feeling of clogged ears, jaw pain, and vertigo.
I went to the dentist thinking I had an abscess and needed antibiotics. She took some x-rays and felt my jaw, determining that it was TMD. She prescribed me valium and said it is probably caused by stress and a couple good nights sleep should clear it up.
It has been a week now, the sinus pressure and vertigo are gone, but all other symptoms remain. My jaw constantly feels sore and my back teeth hurt as well. Ears still feel clogged, and the constant pain is driving me crazy.
Do you think the fillings could have changed my bite, and this is the cause? If so, will I adjust in a few weeks or could this be an infection? I am at a loss, any advice is appreciated.
Joycie, yes it is possible that the fillings have slightly altered your bite. It is also possible that the act of having your mouth open for a long period during the procedure has caused muscle strain. This can pull on the bones of the head, creating sinus issues, slow draining ears and pain in the jaw and other head muscles. I would recommend going to a practitioner who treats the jaw and head gently (such as a cranial osteopath). You can massage your jaw muscles yourself also. If after treatment, your symptoms don’t settle down, then talk to the dentist to see if the fillings need filing down or anything. If you would like to discuss it further, please email us! Good luck!
For about a little over a week now, My scalp on the left side is sore. If I don’t touch it, I wouldn’t know it was sore. When I press that area, I feel pressure down in my ears and my jaw. I’m wondering what I can do to make this soreness go away.
Hi Julia, that could be stress related, or there is something else making the muscle sore (there is probably a trigger point in that muscle). You can use pressure on the sore spot and wait till the pain reduces. Repeat this a couple of times a day. You can try the techniques in the free pdf on our website and you can try relaxation techniques. If it doesn’t improve by at least 80% over the next week, I would recommend that you seek an appointment from a qualified health professional. I hope this helps
So severe bruxism can cause eye bulging ? I’ve noticed when I grind at night it’s usually offset to one side. All of my tooth wear is on one side. Now my eye on that side is slightly bulged and have dull intermittent pain.
Hi Jacob, that sounds quit severe! I would want to check what else is going on before suggesting that the jaw misalignment is causing the eye bulge, but I can’t discount that it might be possible. Either way, you want some blood tests and assessment to find out everything that is going on. Then you’d want an experienced orthodontist or prosthodontist to help you to get correct alignment and deal with the tooth wearing as best as possible, before it gets worse!
I have night time bruxism. I grind on one side (all of the tooth wear is on the left side). Now I have eye pain and slight bulging. I’ve recently started using a night time mouth guard. Can bruxism really cause eye bulge ? Apparently I’ve grinder my teeth for years.
I have never heard of an association between feet and TMJ before?! Is there evidence on this?
I was 5 days post foot surgery when I developed a severe case of labrynthitis. 3 months later, after vestibular Physio rehabilitation, 5 osteo appointments, neurology consult, oral steroids and steroid ear injection, I am left with mild dizziness, severe/profound sensoneural hearing loss in one ear and terrible jaw pain. Most of my neck, head and jaw muscles are hyper tensed.
I’m very interested to hear if foot surgery (which has healed excellently) could have caused or contributed to the jaw/ear/balance issues.
Clarry, that is very interesting! I treat feet and in the long run, assist people with headache and jaw issues. I see this, not infrequently! But a more sudden connection from foot surgery to all those horrible things and jaw pain, is definitely not so common. Via the fascial strain patterns that links the whole body, it is possible. The labrynthitis is obviously a major factor here and I would expect that there are multiple things going on, but without assessing you and getting a full history, I can’t really clarify anything. I would however, expect that treatment to the neck, head and jaw will assist the muscle tension and jaw pain at least. Looking into how your feet are moving etc could be helpful, but I doubt the foot surgery itself was the cause of the labrynthitis that is usually triggered by even a minor cold or flu infection. If you’d like to chat further, I’d be happy to via email or phone
I literally have every single symptom listed on the above graph! I am so frustrated and my quality of life is so low. I just had my second sinus surgery to no avail. I am open to any advice you can offer me!
Sandra, how are you doing? What part of the world are you in? I recommend seeing an osteopath, even a cranial osteopath (though a chiro or physio can help too). An osteo is likely to treat more gently and a little more holistically as, quite literally, even how your feet are working can affect your jaw and head! You may need to see an orthodontist type specialist also – someone who specialises in jaw alignment and understands that even less than 1mm misalignment can cause compression of the cranial base and affect many nerves and muscles…
Let me know how you do!