Can a Chiropractor Help With TMJ Pain and Jaw Locking?
Yes, chiropractic care may help some people with TMJ pain, jaw popping, limited jaw movement, and recurring episodes of jaw locking—especially when muscle tension, clenching or grinding, and neck dysfunction are contributing to the problem.
At Drummond Chiropractic in Bloomington, Indiana, we work with TMJ complaints regularly. Two of the most common symptoms patients mention are jaw pain and popping, but we also see patients who have difficulty opening their mouth fully, experience frequent headaches, or have a history of their jaw locking open or closed.
One thing we’ve learned from treating these patients is that a TMJ problem isn’t always just a jaw-joint problem.
The muscles surrounding the jaw, the neck, clenching and grinding habits, posture, stress, and other factors can all play a role. That’s why our first step is figuring out what appears to be contributing to your symptoms rather than treating every case of TMJ pain the same way.
What Is TMJ Pain?
The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are the joints connecting your lower jaw to your skull. You use them constantly throughout the day—when you talk, chew, yawn, swallow, and make facial expressions.
People commonly use the term “TMJ” to describe jaw problems, although TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is the more accurate term for conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding structures.
Common symptoms can include:
● Jaw pain or tenderness
● Popping or clicking when opening or closing the mouth
● Difficulty opening the mouth fully
● Tightness in the jaw
● A jaw that shifts to one side while opening
● Episodes of the jaw locking open or closed
● Headaches
● Neck pain or muscle tension
In our office, jaw pain and popping are two of the most common TMJ-related complaints we see.
However, there is another symptom that patients don’t always associate with their jaw: frequent headaches.
Can TMJ Problems Cause Headaches?
They can contribute to headaches in some people, and this is something we pay particular attention to when someone tells us they have headaches multiple days per week.
The muscles of the jaw, face, head, and neck don’t work completely independently of one another. Someone who frequently clenches their teeth, for example, may be placing repeated stress on the muscles around the jaw and head.
Interestingly, patients don’t always realize they’re doing it.
One patient came to us experiencing headaches almost every day. When we initially asked about clenching and grinding, the patient didn’t think they did either.
During the examination, however, we found signs that made us suspect clenching or grinding was occurring. We began working on both the neck and jaw. Over time, the patient’s nearly daily headaches became almost nonexistent.
Once the patient started consciously paying attention to their habits, they realized they were clenching their teeth frequently throughout the day without knowing it.
This is one reason we routinely consider the jaw when evaluating patients with frequent headaches.
It doesn’t mean every headache is caused by TMJ dysfunction. Headaches have many possible causes. But if you’re experiencing headaches several days a week—particularly along with jaw tightness, pain, popping, or clenching—the jaw is worth evaluating.
What Causes TMJ Pain and Jaw Popping?
In our experience, clenching and grinding are some of the most common contributors to TMJ problems.
But then we have to ask another question:
Why are you clenching or grinding?
We commonly see it associated with factors such as:
● Stress
● Poor sleep
● Recent dental work
● Frequently eating hard or chewy foods
● Gum chewing
Sometimes patients grind their teeth while sleeping. Others clench throughout the day, particularly when concentrating or feeling stressed, and may have no idea they’re doing it.
Rather than simply treating the sore area, we want to identify these contributing factors because they can influence how quickly someone improves—and how long that improvement lasts.
How Does a Chiropractor Evaluate TMJ Problems?
When someone comes to Drummond Chiropractic with jaw pain, popping, locking, or other TMJ symptoms, we don’t just look at the jaw.
Our examination may include:
● Palpating the jaw muscles for areas of tension or tenderness
● Evaluating the muscles of the neck
● Assessing mobility of the joints in the neck
● Watching the mouth open and close
● Looking for the jaw to deviate or shift from side to side
● Checking for popping or clicking
● Evaluating how far the mouth can comfortably open
This helps us determine whether the symptoms appear to be primarily related to the jaw joint, surrounding muscles, the neck, or a combination of factors.
That distinction can be especially important for patients who experience jaw locking.
Can a Chiropractor Help With a Jaw That Locks?
We’ve treated many patients who have a history of their jaw locking either open or closed.
Patients often assume that if their jaw locks, something must be wrong with the joint itself. Sometimes the joint can be involved—but muscle tension can also contribute to the sensation of the jaw getting stuck or being unable to move normally.
That’s why we evaluate the individual rather than assuming every locking jaw has the same cause.
For patients who experience recurring episodes, our goal is to improve the factors we can address so that ideally the jaw doesn’t lock again. If episodes do recur, another goal may be for them to happen less frequently, be less severe, or resolve more quickly.
We can also teach patients certain self-release techniques for the jaw muscles that they may be able to try when they notice the muscles becoming particularly tight.
A jaw that is currently stuck and will not open or close normally, particularly following trauma or with other concerning symptoms, warrants appropriate medical or dental evaluation rather than assuming it is simply muscle tightness.
How Do Chiropractors Treat TMJ Pain?
Treatment depends on what we find during your examination.
At Drummond Chiropractic, TMJ treatment often involves both the neck and the jaw.
For the neck, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments and muscle work. Depending on the individual, muscle treatment may involve:
● Manual therapy and stretching
● Cupping
● Graston/IASTM
● Dry needling
Around the jaw, we perform a significant amount of manual muscle release. In certain cases we may also use Graston or cupping around appropriate areas. If indicated, we can use an Activator instrument to provide a gentle, targeted treatment to the jaw joint.
We also give patients exercises to perform at home that address the jaw, neck tension, and posture.
The important point is that TMJ care in our office isn’t simply about “popping your jaw.” In fact, much of what we do involves addressing the muscles and other factors that may be contributing to the problem.
How Quickly Can TMJ Pain Improve?
Some patients notice a difference within the first one or two visits.
For example, we treated a patient who could barely open their mouth because of significant pain and tightness. Within a few visits, they were able to open their mouth considerably wider with no pain and minimal tightness.
However, there’s an important difference between experiencing initial relief and getting that relief to last.
The jaw can be challenging because it’s difficult to truly rest it. We use these muscles all day to talk, eat, swallow, and perform normal daily activities.
How quickly someone improves—and how long the improvement lasts—can depend on factors including:
● How long the problem has been present
● How frequently they clench or grind
● Whether they chew gum frequently
● How consistently they perform their home exercises
● Their individual condition and contributing factors
Our goal is to help patients become pain-free and return to normal function, while also identifying habits that may be continually irritating the area.
What Can You Do at Home for TMJ Pain?
Awareness is one of the first things we work on with patients who clench.
Many people don’t realize how frequently they’re holding tension in their jaw. We encourage patients to start paying attention to when they clench and what they’re doing when it happens.
When they catch themselves clenching, one strategy we use is having them place their tongue gently on the roof of their mouth and allow the jaw to relax, rather than continuing to hold the teeth tightly together.
We also email our patients individualized stretches and exercises to address the jaw, neck tension, and posture.
If grinding or clenching—particularly at night—is a significant concern, we may recommend talking with a dentist about whether a night guard is appropriate.
We may also discuss factors such as nutrition or supplements, including magnesium, when appropriate. Supplements aren’t a replacement for determining why the jaw is painful, and patients should discuss whether a supplement is appropriate for them with their healthcare provider.
Do You Work With Dentists or TMJ Specialists?
Yes—and sometimes the best treatment for TMJ problems involves more than one type of healthcare provider.
At Drummond Chiropractic, we work hand-in-hand with local TMD specialist Dr. Jenny Munden when a patient’s condition would benefit from collaborative care.
If we suspect that jaw pain may actually be related to a tooth or another dental problem, we’ll recommend that the patient see their dentist.
Our goal isn’t to make every TMJ problem a chiropractic problem. It’s to determine what appears to be contributing to the symptoms and help the patient get to the right provider when something falls outside our scope.
When Should Jaw Pain Be Evaluated Urgently?
Jaw pain isn’t always a musculoskeletal or TMJ problem.
We recommend seeking appropriate medical or dental evaluation for symptoms such as:
● Significant or recent trauma to the jaw or face
● Redness or swelling
● New numbness or weakness
● Severe, unexplained pain
● Symptoms suggesting a dental infection or tooth problem
● Jaw pain accompanied by potential heart-attack symptoms, such as chest discomfort or shortness of breath
If symptoms appear tooth-related, we may refer a patient to their dentist. If we believe symptoms could indicate a more serious or urgent medical problem, we refer for emergency evaluation.
So, Can a Chiropractor Help With TMJ Pain and Jaw Locking?
Yes, chiropractic care may be able to help when TMJ pain, jaw popping, limited motion, or recurring locking is related to problems such as muscle tension, clenching or grinding, neck dysfunction, or altered jaw mechanics.
It’s something we work with regularly at Drummond Chiropractic.
And if you’re experiencing headaches multiple days per week, don’t overlook your jaw simply because it doesn’t hurt. We’ve seen patients who didn’t realize how much they were clenching until we evaluated their jaw and asked them to start paying attention to it.
The key is figuring out why you’re having symptoms.
At Drummond Chiropractic in Bloomington, Indiana, we evaluate both the jaw and neck, look at how your jaw moves, assess the surrounding muscles and joints, and develop treatment based on what we actually find.
Our goal isn’t to put every patient on a lengthy treatment plan. It’s to help reduce pain, restore normal function, give you strategies to manage contributing factors at home, and collaborate with your dentist or a TMD specialist when that’s what will provide the best care.