TMJ and Jaw Pain Treatment in Sulphur Springs, TX

Jaw pain can make it hard to chew, yawn, talk, or sleep. Jaw disorders are one of the most common long lasting muscle and joint pain problems (Busse et al., 2023). The good news is that hands-on care and simple exercises help many people.

Common causes

  • Jaw joint and muscle pain. Aching in the jaw, cheek, or temple, often worse with chewing.

  • Clicking or popping. A click when you open or close. On its own, a painless click is usually not a worry.

  • Clenching and grinding. Often during sleep or stress, leaving the jaw tired and sore.

  • Links to the neck and headaches. The upper neck and jaw are closely connected, and jaw problems often come with neck pain or headaches.

What helps

For jaw pain lasting 3 months or longer, a major guideline strongly recommends hands-on joint mobilization and trigger point work, along with supervised jaw exercise and posture exercise (Busse et al., 2023). Hands-on care or adjustments of the upper neck ease jaw pain and help the mouth open wider (Calixtre et al., 2015). Adding dry needling and upper neck adjustments led to better results at three months than a splint, pain medicine, and jaw mobilization (Dunning et al., 2024).

How we can help

Your jaw and neck work like two gears that turn together, so we care for both. Most of our TMJ care is hands-on work for the jaw muscles plus care for the upper neck, with exercise to keep the gains. Your plan may include:

  • Soft tissue release for the jaw, temple, and neck muscles

  • Chiropractic adjustments for the upper neck, and gentle jaw adjustments by hand or instrument when they fit

  • Dry needling for tight jaw and neck muscles, which may help ease pain

  • Simple jaw, neck, and posture exercises you can do at home

Common questions

Is jaw clicking a problem? A painless click is common and usually fine. Clicking with pain or locking is worth an exam.

Can TMJ cause headaches? Yes. Tight jaw and neck muscles often play a part in headaches, which is one reason we treat the neck too.

What can I do at home? Rest the jaw with softer foods for a while, avoid gum, notice clenching during the day, and keep your teeth apart with your tongue resting gently on the roof of your mouth.

When to seek emergency care

Please seek emergency care if your jaw is locked open or closed, if jaw pain comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, or sweating, if you have swelling, fever, or a bad taste in your mouth, if you have face numbness, trouble speaking, or a sudden severe headache, if jaw pain follows a fall or car crash, or if you have new jaw pain with vision changes or scalp tenderness, especially over age 50. See your dentist for tooth pain or broken teeth.

Book a visit

If your jaw is making it hard to eat, talk, or rest, we would be glad to help you feel more at ease. Book Online or call 903-629-5126.

Pacheco Spine and Sport, 1067 Gilmer Street, Suite C, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.

This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal medical exam.

Sources

Busse, J. W., Casassus, R., Carrasco-Labra, A., Durham, J., Mock, D., Zakrzewska, J. M., Palmer, C., Samer, C. F., Coen, M., Guevremont, B., Hoppe, T., Guyatt, G. H., Crandon, H. N., Yao, L., Sadeghirad, B., Vandvik, P. O., Siemieniuk, R. A. C., Lytvyn, L., Hunskaar, B. S., & Agoritsas, T. (2023). Management of chronic pain associated with temporomandibular disorders: A clinical practice guideline. BMJ, 383, e076227. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-076227

Calixtre, L. B., Moreira, R. F., Franchini, G. H., Alburquerque-Sendín, F., & Oliveira, A. B. (2015). Manual therapy for the management of pain and limited range of motion in subjects with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 42(11), 847-861. https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.12321

Dunning, J., Butts, R., Bliton, P., Vathrakokoilis, K., Smith, G., Lineberger, C., Eshleman, N., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., & Young, I. A. (2024). Dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation in patients with temporomandibular disorder: A multi-center randomized clinical trial. Cranio, 42(6), 809-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/08869634.2022.2062137