TMJ / Jaw Pain
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, the hinge where your jaw meets your skull just in front of the ear. TMD, short for temporomandibular disorder, causes jaw pain, clicking and sometimes locking, and TMJ physical therapy works on the joint, the muscles and the neck around it. We treat jaw pain in Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.
What TMJ and TMD mean in plain words
You use this joint every time you talk, chew and yawn. When the joint or the muscles that move it get irritated, you can feel jaw pain when chewing, hear jaw clicking or jaw popping, or have a jaw that catches. Jaw locking, where the jaw sticks open or closed and is sometimes called lockjaw, needs prompt attention from a doctor or dentist.
Tension in the jaw can also feed into headaches and ear pain. Jaw tension is a common spot where people hold stress, and unlike a tight hamstring it is not something you can easily stretch out at home.
Why a jaw starts to hurt
Clenching jaw and teeth grinding
Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, often at night, overworks the muscles. Many people do it without knowing, and stress makes it worse.
Posture and the neck
A head that sits forward loads the jaw and neck together. We treat both, which is why Neck Pain and jaw pain so often come up in the same visit.
Injury and arthritis
A blow to the face, a car accident or wear in the joint can irritate it.
Headaches
Jaw muscle tension can set off headaches. Our Headaches & Migraines page covers headaches that do not come from the jaw.
What we do for jaw pain
Your therapist looks at how the jaw opens and closes, how the neck and upper back move, and where the muscles are tight.
- Manual therapy and gentle joint mobilization for the jaw and neck
- Trigger point therapy for tight chewing and neck muscles
- Dry needling when it fits your plan
- Jaw and neck exercises, and posture training
- Relaxation and habit training to cut down on clenching
Working with your dentist and a night guard
Physical therapy often works alongside a dentist. If your dentist has given you a night guard or a plan, keep using it, and tell us what you are wearing so we can fit our work around it. Your therapist is happy to share what we find if you want your dentist or doctor kept in the loop.
Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan. We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Related care
TMJ care in Chubbuck and Pocatello
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see jaw pain patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.