TMJ & JAW PAIN 

Jaw pain, clicking, difficulty opening your mouth or an ache around the ear can all point to a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). It affects around one in three adults and can range from mildly annoying to genuinely debilitating, interfering with eating, talking and sleeping.

Common causes include clenching or grinding (bruxism), stress-related muscle tension, trauma, prolonged dental work and poor posture, especially forward head posture. Often more than one factor is at play. What many people don't realise is how closely the neck and jaw are connected: they share a neurological pathway, so stiffness in the upper neck can directly contribute to jaw pain, and vice versa.

International guidelines are clear that TMD treatment should start conservative. A 2023 BMJ guideline based on 153 trials strongly recommends jaw mobilisation and manual trigger point therapy, and a 2024 meta-analysis found manual therapy outperformed bite plates for improving mouth opening and reducing symptoms. Treating the neck matters too. A 2024 review found that cervical manual therapy produced moderate-to-large improvements in jaw pain.

We see a good amount of TMD at our Sandton practice, and we always assess the neck alongside the jaw. Treatment combines gentle TMJ mobilisation, manual therapy to the chewing muscles and cervical spine, and a personalised exercise and self-management programme. When a multidisciplinary approach is needed, we work closely with dentists and other practitioners.