Jaw Pain & TMJ (temporomandibular disorder)
Jaw and face pain are often linked to temporomandibular disorders (TMD)—problems involving the jaw joints (TMJ), chewing muscles, and related structures.
Many people say “I have TMJ,” but TMJ is just the name of the joint (temporomandibular joint). The actual conditions are called TMD.
TMD affects an estimated 5–12% of the population, and is recognised as one of the most common dental and orofacial pain conditions.
Because the jaw is wired into the powerful trigeminal nerve (the main sensory nerve of the face and a key chewing nerve), jaw problems can show up as facial pain, headaches, ear symptoms, and even neck issues.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we assess TMJ mechanics, muscles, neck, posture, and the trigeminal system to help reduce pain, improve jaw function, and calm irritated facial nerves—working alongside your dentist when needed.
Jaw & facial pain: Tension, clicking, and more
People with jaw and face pain often say things like:
“My jaw clicks or pops when I open my mouth.”
“I wake up with jaw pain and headaches.”
“My face and temples ache, especially when I’m stressed.”
“My jaw feels tight or stuck when I yawn or chew.”
“I get ear fullness, ringing, or pain, but my ears test normal.”
These symptoms are commonly grouped under TMD – Temporomandibular Disorders.
What's going on in the jaw, face & nervous system?
The TMJ and chewing muscles
Each TMJ is a small but complex joint:
Jaw bone (mandible) meeting the temporal bone of the skull
A small disc between them acting like a cushion and gliding surface
Surrounded by a capsule, ligaments, and powerful muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids)
These muscles help you:
open and close your mouth
move the jaw forward and back
move side to side for chewing
The trigeminal nerve – the “main cable” for face and jaw
The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) is the largest cranial nerve and a major player in jaw and face pain. It:
carries sensation from most of the face, teeth, gums, and the TMJ
powers the muscles of mastication (chewing muscles)
has three big branches:
V1 (ophthalmic) – forehead and eye area
V2 (maxillary) – cheek, upper jaw, upper teeth
V3 (mandibular) – lower jaw, lower teeth, part of tongue, TMJ, chewing muscles
All this information travels into the brainstem, where trigeminal nuclei stretch from the midbrain down into the upper cervical spinal cord. That area is like a busy roundabout for head, face, and neck signals.
This helps explain why TMD can cause:
jaw and facial pain
headaches and temple pain
ear pain, fullness, or tinnitus (with normal ear tests)
neck pain and tightness
Your jaw is not an isolated hinge; it is deeply connected to your neck, head, and nervous system.
Why you might be feeling jaw or face pain
TMD is usually multifactorial—several factors combine. Common contributors include:
Clenching and grinding (bruxism)
often worse at night or during stress
overloads jaw muscles, TMJ, and teeth
Stress and nervous system sensitivity
trigeminal system becomes more reactive
muscles stay “on guard” and tight
Neck and posture issues
forward head posture, desk work, phone use
the neck and jaw share muscular and neural connections; neck dysfunction can feed into TMD
Joint mechanics and disc issues
disc displacement or “clicking” TMJ
early or late clicks, occasional locking, or feeling like the jaw “catches”
Dental and bite factors
missing teeth, big changes in bite, or recent dental work can change load
usually one piece of the puzzle, not the whole story
Trauma or overload
whiplash, falls, or blows to the chin
long dental sessions with mouth held open
Because of the trigeminal nerve’s reach, jaw overload can radiate into:
toothaches with healthy teeth
temple headaches and facial pressure
ear pain, ringing, or “blocked” feeling
neck and upper shoulder tension
How we can help at Roots
At Roots Health Clinic, we look at your jaw, neck, posture, breathing, and nervous system as one integrated unit.
Your plan may include:
Detailed assessment
history of jaw pain, headaches, clenching, dental work, injuries
examination of TMJ movement and sounds
palpation of jaw, face, neck, and shoulder muscles
basic screening of cranial nerves and trigeminal system (within our scope)
posture and breathing assessment
Physiotherapy & exercise-based care
gentle mobility work for the TMJ and cervical spine
specific exercises for jaw control and symmetry
neck and scapular strengthening to take strain off the jaw
breathing and tongue-position training to support jaw and neck alignment
Chiropractic care & manual therapy
safe, modified techniques for neck and upper back mechanics
manual therapy for jaw, face, and neck muscles (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids, SCM, etc.)
work on rib and thoracic mobility to support better head/neck posture
Posture, habits & load management
reducing daytime clenching and “jaw bracing” habits
simple workstation and phone-use changes
guidance on chewing, talking, and exercise while jaw settles
Collaboration with dentists & other professionals
if we suspect bite-related issues, significant tooth wear, or the need for splint therapy, we will:
explain what we see
refer or liaise with your dentist or TMD-specialist dentist as needed
Our goal is to reduce pain, improve function, calm the trigeminal system, and give you practical tools you can use long term.
Jaw or face pain? Get integrated care in Prague
Jaw and face pain can affect eating, talking, social life, and sleep.
You don’t have to simply “live with it” or feel lost between dentistry and neurology.
At Roots Health Clinic in Prague, we:
listen to your story in detail
assess your jaw, neck, posture, and nervous system
work alongside your dentist and other clinicians when needed
“TMJ” or “TMD”? What’s the difference?
TMJ = TemporoMandibular Joint – the actual jaw joint on each side, just in front of your ears. Everyone has TMJs.
TMD = TemporoMandibular Disorders – the problems that affect the joint, the disc inside it, the chewing muscles, and related structures.
So saying “I have TMJ” is like saying “I have knee” or “I have elbow.”
More accurate is: “I have TMD” or “I have jaw / TMJ problems.”
Using the right term isn’t just semantics—it helps you and your clinicians talk about what’s actually going on and what can be done about it.
When you should seek emergency care
Most TMD and facial pain is not dangerous.
However, you should seek urgent care (dentist, doctor, or emergency) if you notice:
sudden, severe jaw pain with inability to close or open the mouth after trauma (possible dislocation or fracture)
rapidly increasing swelling, fever, or feeling very unwell with jaw/tooth pain (possible infection)
chest pain or left-sided jaw pain with shortness of breath or sweating (possible cardiac cause)
new facial numbness, drooping, or difficulty speaking (possible neurological emergency)
For routine tooth pain, broken teeth, or suspected dental infection, your dentist is the primary contact. We focus on muscles, joints, nerves, and posture.
What people often notice after care
With consistent care and home strategies, many people experience:
reduced jaw and facial pain
fewer or quieter clicks/pops (or less worry about them)
less morning jaw tension and fewer clenching-related headaches
improved mouth opening and comfort with chewing/talking
less neck and shoulder tightness
better understanding of how stress and posture influence their jaw
Most importantly, they feel less fragile and more in control of their symptoms.
Common symptoms we see
People with TMD and orofacial pain often report a mix of:
jaw pain, tightness, or fatigue
clicking, popping, or grinding noises in the jaw
limited mouth opening or jaw “locking”
pain when chewing tough foods, talking a lot, or yawning
headaches (especially in temples, around the eyes, or base of skull)
ear symptoms (fullness, ringing, mild pain) with normal ENT findings
facial pain or pressure on one side
neck and upper back tension that seems linked to the jaw
You don’t need all of these to have TMD—the pattern and context matter most.