What causes jaw pain, clicking and tension?
There is rarely one cause. The NHS points to teeth grinding, wear and tear in the joint, a blow to the head or face, stress and an uneven bite. In practice it is often a mix: a stressful few months, clenching at night, a habit of chewing on one side.
Grinding and clenching deserve a special mention. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust notes that bruxism does not cause TMD by itself but can make an existing problem worse. If you suspect you grind, tell us at your appointment and we can look for the signs. Stress can play a part too, so it helps to mention how you have been sleeping and feeling.
Snoring and sleep apnoea can also be linked to night time grinding. If your partner hears you stop breathing at night, or you feel exhausted all day, mention it to us and your GP.
When jaw pain needs urgent medical help
Most jaw pain is not an emergency. The NHS advises contacting your GP or calling 111 if you cannot eat or drink, your jaw is locked, you have frequent severe headaches, your scalp or temples are tender, or your vision changes. These can point to causes outside the jaw that need prompt attention. If your jaw has dislocated and will not go back, seek emergency care. If the pain is coming from a broken or abscessed tooth rather than the jaw, you can book an emergency appointment.
What happens at a TMJ assessment?
Your appointment begins with a conversation. We ask when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, whether you clench or grind, and how you sleep. Then we examine your jaw, the muscles around it, your teeth and your bite, and watch how your jaw moves when you open and close.
Scans are not routine. We only suggest imaging when the examination points to something that a picture could clarify. Often the most useful outcome is simply ruling things in or out: is this muscle tension, a joint problem, a tooth problem, or something your GP should look at?
Assessments can be part of a dental examination, so there is no need to wait for a routine check up if your jaw is troubling you.
Treatment options, in a sensible order
National guidance from the Royal College of Surgeons of England on painful TMD in adults puts supported self management first for everyone. That means understanding the condition, gentle jaw exercises, heat, soft foods and breaking habits like clenching. It is simple, low risk and often enough.
Physiotherapy, with jaw exercises and manual therapy, is also worth considering for most types of TMD according to the same guidance. Medication such as short courses of anti inflammatory painkillers may help during a flare up, and your GP can advise on this.
A splint, which most people know as a night guard, is another option. The guidance says splints are most likely to help muscle related TMD and TMD headaches, are not suitable simply for joint noise, and should be tried for around three months of night time use before judging whether they help. Full coverage hard splints are generally preferred over soft ones.
We should be straight with you about the evidence. A 2024 Cochrane review of 57 trials covering 2,846 people found the certainty of the evidence for occlusal splints and similar treatments was very low. A night guard is not a cure, and we would never promise one. For some people it reduces muscle strain and protects teeth from wear. For others it makes little difference.
Irreversible treatments, such as reshaping teeth to change your bite, are not supported as a way to treat TMD, and we do not recommend them for this purpose. If your problem is severe or does not improve, we can discuss referral to a specialist.
What you can do at home today
- Eat soft foods for a few days and cut food into small pieces.
- Hold a warm or cold pack, wrapped in a tea towel, against the sore side.
- Gently massage the muscles in front of your ear.
- Keep your teeth slightly apart when you are not eating.
- Avoid chewing gum, pen tops and nails, and try not to yawn very wide.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help if you can take them safely.
Why patients come to us for jaw pain
We are a private practice on Sutherland Avenue, two minutes on foot from Maida Vale tube station, with late opening until 8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can meet our clinicians before you book. If you are local, you will find directions and parking information for our Maida Vale dentist practice.
TMJ treatment FAQs
