Jaw Pain Treatment: Stop the Ache
Waking up with an aching jaw, noticing clicking or popping, or even struggling to open your mouth comfortably? Jaw pain is a common problem among people aged 20 to 40, stemming from an issue with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull.
The good news is that effective, drug-free jaw pain treatment is available, and it starts with the right diagnosis. At Bangalow Headache Neck & Jaw Clinic, we offer evidence-based therapy that’s personalised, natural and proven effective.
What is TMD?
We understand how frustrating and debilitating Jaw Pain can be, but we can help
Symptoms of TMD and Jaw Dysfunction
The disruption can be mechanical (joint-related), muscular (soft tissue-related) or both, affecting up to 33% of individuals, with 3.6% to 7% experiencing more severe pain or discomfort, needing physio for jaw pain. Symptoms include:
- Jaw clicking, popping or grinding sounds when opening or closing the mouth
- Pain or fatigue, particularly after eating or speaking
- Locked jaw, stiffness, or restricted movement
- Facial pain, earaches, headaches, or neck pain
- Tension in the cheek muscles or pain around the temples
- Bruxism (night grinding), clenching, or worn and cracked teeth
- Uneven mouth opening or a painful bite
Safe & Fast
All techniques involve targeted, slow and sustained pressure. There is NO manipulation (cracking) of the spine.
Effective
80% of people assessed have treatable and relevant dysfunction. Most of these will see significant changes in the first two weeks.
100% Natural
No drugs, needles, toxic chemicals or side-effects. Just correcting a previously misunderstood fault in biomechanics.
Causes of Jaw Pain and TMD
Studies show a 5% to 12% prevalence of TMD, and disorders in the jaw develop for a number of reasons.
At times, it can be past trauma or injury to the jaw or face, poor posture or stress that leads to muscle tension or bruxism, neck problems, or misaligned teeth. More common with older clients is arthritis or joint degeneration.
In many cases, several factors contribute to TMD over time, and finding the primary causes of the issue ensures accurate treatment – this is where our specialised treatment for jaw pain can help.
Triggers That May Worsen Jaw Pain
Jaw pain may flare up due to:
- Chewing tough foods like steak or gum
- Stress or anxiety that results in increased clenching or grinding
- Talking for extended periods without rest
- Yawning widely or nail biting
- Sleeping on your stomach or with poor pillow support
- Lack of ergonomic support while working
- Extended screentime or looking down at devices for long periods
Diagnosing TMD and Jaw Pain
Our jaw pain physio starts with understanding your medical history and complex individual assessment of contributing factors and analysis of jaw biomechanics. This includes interaction between the jaw, alignment and bite, muscle function, and surrounding structures like the neck and shoulders.
The Three Finger Test
A simple starting point is checking if you can comfortably fit three fingers vertically between your top and bottom teeth. Any discomfort, pain, or symptoms such as clicking, popping or grinding may indicate restricted jaw opening – a sign to get in touch with our physio for jaw pain for more precise TMJ disorder treatment.
100% Natural Jaw Pain Treatment
Rather than masking pain, our jaw pain treatment zeroes in on solving the issue at the root cause, restoring comfort and function without medication, spinal manipulation or any aggressive techniques. Using slow, sustained pressure, we correct the dysfunctions of the jaw and neck, typically helping eliminate symptoms in 4 to 5 sessions.
We support lasting relief with:
- Manual therapy to release tight jaw and neck muscles
- Education around posture and jaw awareness
- Targeted exercises to restore healthy joint movement
- Guidance on reducing flare-up triggers at home and work
We support recovery at every stage, offering bruxism treatments and jaw clicking treatments, and we can coordinate with your dentist, prosthodontist or orthodontist for more complex cases.
The Difference Our Jaw Pain Physiotherapy Makes
Led by Michael Hayward and servicing the North Coast for over 28 years, our clinic brings extensive expertise in jaw pain physiotherapy. Michael has completed advanced training in Australia and overseas, developing a deep focus on jaw biomechanics, anatomy and function.
This ensures a personalised treatment plan and a team ready to explain how we’ll help restore healthy motion and reduce your symptoms.
Physio for Jaw Pain That Puts You First
Whether you’re dealing with pain from a locked jaw, chronic clenching, or an old injury that never resolved, we work with you to create a practical, step-by-step plan. Bangalow Headache Neck & Jaw Clinic stands apart with:
- Safe, gentle techniques addressing specific faults that weren’t previously picked up.
- Fast-acting treatments with many patients seeing and feeling a difference within 4 to 5 sessions.
- Drug-free and thorough assessments that look at how different structures interact, not just your pain point.
Self Help Exercises for your Jaw
Professor Mariano Rocabado’s 6 Exercises for TMJ Disorders
Professor Rocabado prescribes 6 exercises in order to treat TMJ disorders. He stressed the importance of treating head and neck also to effectively treat TMJ disorders.
It is recommended to do 6 repetitions of each exercise, 6 times per day.
- Resting Position of the Joint – Place the tip of the Tongue on the Roof of Mouth – putting gentle pressure on the palate.
- Controlled Opening – open and close the jaw whilst gently pressing the tip of the tongue on the roof of the palate.
- Stabilisation of the TMJ – place 2 fingers on the chin. Open and close your jaw whilst keeping the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth.
- Stabilised Head Flexion – lift and lower the chin as if nodding the head.
- Cervical Retraction – bring your chin toward your neck (creating a double chin) then push it out again.
- Shoulder Retraction – squeeze the shoulder blades together while lifting and lowering the chest.
Effectiveness of Rocabado’s Technique for Subjects with Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction – A Single Blind Study International Journal of Physiotherapy 2(1):365 · February 2015 Niha Siraj Mulla, K. Vinod Babu, N. Sai Kumar, Syed Rais Rizvi https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273496058_Effectiveness_of_Rocabado’s_Technique_for_Subjects_with_Temporomandibular_Joint_Dysfunction_-_A_Single_Blind_Study
We also treat...
Our experts treat a number of headache and jaw pain issues, and have a high level of knowledge and experience with any pain you may be suffering from.
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Jaw Pain Treatment FAQs
Yes, stress can lead to unconscious habits like clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), especially during sleep. This repeated strain puts pressure on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, often leading to pain, stiffness, or tension headaches. If you wake with a sore jaw or notice tightness during stressful periods, it’s worth seeking an assessment with our jaw pain physiotherapist.
Jaw pain can often be linked to pain in nearby areas like the temples, forehead, or around the ears. This is because the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sits close to nerves and muscles involved in facial and cranial (skull) movement. If you experience jaw discomfort along with headaches or ear pressure, it may be a sign of underlying jaw dysfunction.
If your jaw pain is ongoing, worsens with movement, or is accompanied by clicking, locking, or headaches, it’s time to get it checked. Early assessment by a trained physiotherapist can help identify the cause and prevent long-term issues. Timely jaw pain treatment often leads to faster relief and avoids unnecessary strain on the joint.
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