Jaw Pain and TMJ Dysfunction: The Hidden Cause of Headaches and Neck Tension
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Your jaw is one of the hardest-working joints in your body. It moves thousands of times a day when you talk, chew, yawn and swallow, yet it is often the last place people think of when they are troubled by headaches, facial pain or neck tension. In clinic, the jaw is frequently the missing piece of the puzzle.
What is TMJ dysfunction?
The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, sit just in front of your ears and connect your jaw to your skull. When they become irritated or the surrounding muscles become overworked, the result is TMJ dysfunction. Symptoms include jaw ache, clicking or popping, difficulty opening wide, pain when chewing, ear discomfort, facial tension and, very commonly, headaches.
Frequent causes include clenching and grinding, particularly at night or during stressful periods, prolonged dental work, chewing habits, previous injury and, importantly, tension in the neck and upper back. The jaw and neck are close neighbours, and they very much share their problems.
The jaw and neck connection
Try this: gently clench your teeth and notice what happens in your temples and neck. The muscles of the jaw, head and neck work as one system, which is why jaw tension so often shows up as tension headaches, and why treating the neck alone sometimes only gets someone halfway better.
How osteopathy can help
Gentle hands-on treatment for the muscles and joints of the jaw, face, neck and upper back
Cranial osteopathic techniques, which many patients find especially effective and relaxing for this area
Advice on habits such as clenching, chewing and posture at your desk
Simple exercises to reduce tension between appointments
Working alongside your dentist where night guards or dental input would help
Do not put up with it
Jaw problems respond well to treatment, yet many people live with them for years assuming nothing can be done. If your jaw clicks, aches or feels tight, or your headaches have never fully resolved, it is well worth an assessment. Sometimes the answer has been hiding in plain sight, just in front of your ears.
If your jaw clicks, aches or is driving your headaches, book an appointment at Laura Fishlock Osteopathy. Relief may be closer than you think.
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