01/16/2026
Jaw pain, like any other pain, isnât easily pinned on a single root cause.
A large portion of TMJ pain is myofascial, driven by sustained tension patterns in the jaw, neck, and face. This often responds well to manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, and modalities like laser. Botox injections are sometimes effective for stubborn myofascial pain patterns.
The harder part isnât calming the tissue â itâs addressing the drivers of that tension. Clenching, grinding, and occlusion issues commonly contribute. And sometimes one pattern reinforces the other. Thatâs why itâs great to work collaboratively with your dentist.
Joint mechanics matter too. True joint-based TMJ issues are often related to how the disc sits relative to the condyle. The disc is fibrocartilage and can remodel over time in response to mechanical stress.
When this happens, each side of the jaw may open slightly differently â leading to catching, deviation, or joint noise.
Hereâs a big positive:
Even when disc position or joint mechanics arenât ideal, the TMJ is remarkably resilient. These issues do NOT cause the jaw to âwear out,â and people do NOT end up needing jaw surgery because of common TMJ disorders. Conservative care is effective for the vast majority of cases, and there are certain types of pain injections available when it isnât.
Not all jaw pain is mechanical. Occasionally, jaw pain is neurogenic â involving sensitization of the trigeminal nerve. These cases behave differently and donât respond like muscle or joint pain.
Whatâs normal vs not:
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Clicking or popping without pain is extremely common â especially in hypermobile individuals.
â Locking, painful clicking, significant asymmetry, pain with chewing, or loss of opening range are not considered normal and are worth assessing.