About 12 million Americans suffer from painful jaw joint and muscles called TMJ disorders. They bring jaw pain that interferes with sleep and makes it hard to eat or speak.
The symptoms can also bring pain to the backs of the eyes, the shoulders, neck and back.
The culprit is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the bone at the side of the head and its connected muscles. Temporomandibular pain is often blamed on misaligned teeth and dental problems, but there are other causes
In some patients, the problem is related to repeated movement of the jaw caused by tooth grinding while they sleep. A 2024 Journal of Oral Rehabilitation study found that 60 percent of TMJ disorder patients exhibit nighttime bruxism, often linked to stress. Stress-related clenching of the jaw muscles may be the cause. Or there could be a problem with the joint.
Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia may contribute, with a 2025 Arthritis & Rheumatology study noting that 20 percent of TMJ patients have an underlying autoimmune disorder.
Treatment begins with self-care.
* Rest the joint. Limit jaw movement while eating, yawning and laughing. Avoid gum. Opt for soft foods.
* Use heat to relax the muscles. Apply a heating pad, hot towel or water bottle for 20 minutes at a time. Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling.
* Use over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxem.
* When misaligned teeth are the problem, a dentist or orthodontist can prescribe a mouth guard.
* Get therapy. Techniques like manual therapy, ultrasound, or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can also reduce pain, with a 2025 Physical Therapy Reviews study reporting 70 percent of patients showing improvement after 6'8 weeks.
* Botox Injections: Injections into the jaw muscles can reduce clenching and pain. A 2024 Journal of Headache and Pain study found that 65 percent of TMJ patients experienced relief for 3'6 months post-injection, though costs range from $500, $1,200 per session.
