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Understanding TMJD: More Than Just Jaw Pain
- TBR Wellness & Rehab
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is one of the most misunderstood pain conditions we see and is the 2nd leading cause of chronic pain.
Many people assume jaw pain is simply the result of clenching or grinding. While those habits can contribute, TMJD is rarely just about the jaw itself.
In most cases, jaw symptoms reflect how the entire body is managing pressure, breathing, stress, and movement.
To understand TMJD, we first need to understand the joint.
The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone of the skull.
It is:
A synovial joint
A combined hinge and gliding joint
One of the most frequently used joints in the body
Every time you speak, chew, yawn, swallow, or clench, this joint is working.
Inside the joint is an articular disc that helps distribute force and allow smooth, efficient motion. When joint mechanics are altered by muscular tension, poor coordination, or faulty posture, irritation and pain can develop.
Common TMJD Symptoms
TMJD does not always present as obvious jaw pain.
Many clients experience:
Clicking or popping
Jaw locking
Ear fullness or pressure
Headaches, especially in the temples or behind the eyes
Facial tension
Neck stiffness
Pain with chewing
Limited mouth opening
Tooth sensitivity without dental cause
Because the jaw is neurologically and mechanically connected to the neck, ribcage, and diaphragm, symptoms often extend far beyond the face.
The Muscles Involved
Several muscles coordinate jaw movement:
Masseter - Primary jaw elevator. Often overactive in chronic clenchers.
Temporalis - Assists elevation and retraction. Frequently linked to temporal headaches.
Lateral Pterygoid - Controls jaw opening and forward glide. Commonly involved in disc issues.
Medial Pterygoid - Supports elevation and side-to-side control.
These muscles work alongside the tongue, hyoid muscles, deep neck stabilizers, and breathing system. Dysfunction in any of these areas can influence jaw mechanics.
Why the Jaw and Neck Are Connected
The jaw is controlled by the trigeminal nerve, which has close relationships with the upper cervical spine and brainstem.
This connection explains why:
Neck tension affects jaw position
Jaw dysfunction triggers headaches
Stress increases clenching
Poor breathing patterns increase facial tone
For many people, clenching is not a habit, it is a nervous system strategy.
When the body remains in a heightened stress state, the jaw often becomes a primary area of tension.
What We Do in a TMJD Session
At TBR Wellness, TMJD care is approached through movement science and nervous system regulation.
Each session is individualized and may include:
1. Assessment
We evaluate:
Jaw opening and closing patterns
Cervical spine alignment
Ribcage and breathing mechanics
Tongue posture and control
Muscle tone asymmetry
Whole-body compensation patterns
This allows us to understand why the jaw is being overloaded.
2. Targeted Soft Tissue Work
Based on assessment findings, treatment may include:
External jaw and facial musculature
Intraoral work for deeper stabilizers
Upper cervical and neck support
Suboccipital and scalene release
Hyoid and suprahyoid work
The goal is to restore mobility, reduce excessive tone, and improve joint mechanics.
3. Motor Control & Education
Pain often returns when the nervous system continues to default to inefficient movement and tension patterns.
In your session, we may work on:
Diaphragmatic breathing
Tongue positioning
Jaw control drills
Postural integration
Reducing unnecessary resting muscle tone
When jaw symptoms are driven by larger compensation patterns in the neck, ribcage, spine, pelvis, or hips, local jaw work alone is often not enough.
In these cases, we may recommend transitioning into our NeuroKinetic Therapy® (NKT) sessions. This allows us to assess how your entire body is organizing movement and load, and address the deeper patterns contributing to jaw dysfunction.
By integrating TMJD care with full-body assessment, we are able to treat jaw pain as part of a connected system not an isolated problem.
This approach supports longer-lasting results and more resilient movement over time.
TMJD Is a Load Management Issue
Like any joint in the body, the TMJ responds to how force is distributed.
When:
Muscles over-recruit
Joint glide is altered
Cervical stability is reduced
Breathing is inefficient
Stress remains high
The joint experiences increased compression and irritation.
TMJD is rarely a “tight muscle problem.”
It is usually a load management problem.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a TMJD Session?
You may benefit if you:
Wake up with jaw tension
Experience clicking or locking
Have chronic headaches
Feel facial fatigue
Notice ear symptoms
Have neck and jaw pain together
Have symptoms after dental work
Grind or clench under stress
Peer-Reviewed Studies on TMJD / TMD
1. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review
Reviews physiotherapy and manual therapy interventions for TMD and compares treatment effectiveness.
2. Temporomandibular Disorders: A Review of Current Concepts in Diagnosis and Management
Comprehensive overview of causes, diagnosis, and conservative management strategies.
3. Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD)
Establishes standardized, evidence-based diagnostic guidelines used in research and clinics worldwide.
4. Correlation Between Posture and Temporomandibular Disorders (Meta-Analysis)
Analyzes research on the relationship between posture and TMD symptoms.
✅ Why These Are Valuable for You
These studies support that:
✔ TMJD is multifactorial (not just “tight jaw muscles”)✔ Manual therapy + exercise are evidence-supported✔ Posture and movement influence jaw function✔ Multidisciplinary care is recommended
Which aligns very well with your integrated TMJD + NKT approach.
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