Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) sit just in front of each ear. They let your jaw open, close and slide side to side every time you talk, chew or yawn. When they get irritated you might notice aching around the jaw or ear, clicking, a jaw that feels stuck, or headaches near the temples.
Many people are surprised to hear that the neck is often part of the story.
How the jaw and neck work together
The muscles that move your jaw attach close to the muscles that hold up your head. The nerves that sense the jaw and the upper neck also meet in the same area of the brainstem. That shared wiring is one reason neck tension can be felt as jaw or face pain, and why jaw problems often come with a stiff neck.
Posture plays a part too. When the head drifts forward, for example during long hours at a laptop or phone, the muscles at the back of the neck and under the jaw work harder to hold everything in place. Over time that can add load to the jaw joints.
Common things that make TMJ pain worse
- Clenching or grinding, especially during stress or sleep
- Long periods with the head forward at a screen
- Chewing gum or very tough foods
- A recent knock to the jaw or a whiplash injury
- Neck stiffness that limits how your head turns
What a physiotherapy assessment looks at
At your first visit your physiotherapist asks about your symptoms and checks how your jaw opens and moves, how your neck moves, and which muscles are tender. They also look at habits like clenching and screen posture. If anything suggests you need a dentist or doctor first, they will tell you.
How physiotherapy can help
Treatment is planned around what the assessment finds. It may include:
- Gentle hands-on treatment for the jaw and neck muscles
- Exercises to improve how the jaw opens and to ease clenching
- Neck mobility and posture exercises
- Practical advice for sleep, screens and eating
- Dry needling, when suitable and provided by an authorized practitioner
The aim is to calm the area, improve how the jaw and neck move together, and give you tools to manage flare-ups yourself.
When to get checked
Book an assessment if jaw pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, if your jaw locks or clicks painfully, or if you have jaw pain along with neck pain or headaches. Learn more about our concussion, vestibular and TMJ rehabilitation.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, book an assessment so we can look at your situation.