Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooTemporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) works like a sliding hinge that connects the skull to the jawbone. The TMJ is basically the jaw joint. Problems with it are often called temporomandibular disorders (TMD) (NIDCR, 2026). These disorders can cause pain in the muscles controlling jaw movement and in the jaw joint itself. The cause is often hard to determine; a mix of genes, life stresses and how a person experiences pain may play a part (NIDCR, 2026). Some people with jaw pain also grind their teeth or clench down when sleeping. However, many people habitually clench their teeth and never develop this disorder.

TMD is not usually serious and generally gets better on its own (NHS, 2023). In most cases, simple self-care and non-surgical treatments are all that is needed (NIDCR, 2026).

What Causes TMJ Pain?

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) Anatomy

I Get a Click in My Jaw – is This Normal?

Yes, clicking or popping in the jaw without pain is common, is considered normal, and does not need treatment (NIDCR, 2026). Most people do not notice it until they get pain. If your click is painless, the best thing you can do is try not to deliberately click your jaw and forget about it. If the click is painful, get it checked, as painful clicking can be a sign of TMD (NIDCR, 2026). Often, once you have pain, you become "aware" of a click which may have been present all along.

I Saw My Dentist, but They cannot Help, What Should I do?

Dentists are teeth experts, but not all of them focus on jaw problems. You could seek a dentist or specialist with expertise in jaw pain (an orofacial pain specialist) (NIDCR, 2026). Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may also suggest seeing a physiotherapist for advice about jaw exercises and massage, or a psychologist if stress and anxiety are making the pain worse (NHS, 2023). I can help with jaw exercises and massage too (see the My Approach tab).

What are the Symptoms of TMJ Pain?

How to Treat Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or dentist

Tips

• Eat soft foods, like pasta, omelettes and soup. Avoid biting with your front teeth. Don't chew gum (NHS, 2023).
• Try not to clench your teeth – apart from when eating, your teeth should be apart (NHS, 2023).
• Massage the painful jaw muscles, and I can give you exercises to strengthen and stretch them (NHS, 2023).
• Hold an ice pack or heat pack wrapped in a tea towel to the jaw, whichever feels better: frozen peas for no more than 5 minutes at a time, or a hot water bottle twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes (NHS, 2023).
• Try not to yawn too wide (NHS, 2023).
• Slow your breathing, take deep breaths and relax to help relax tense muscles in the jaw and reduce pain (NHS, 2023; NIDCR, 2026).

Jaw pain rarely lives in the jaw alone: the neck, shoulders, posture, habits like clenching, and how much tension you're carrying all play into it. My aim is to ease the pain, help your jaw move freely again, and give you simple habits that take the load off it day to day.

I start by assessing how your jaw opens, closes and moves side to side, along with your neck, shoulders and posture, and I ask about clenching, grinding, stress and sleep. If your jaw clicks but doesn't hurt or limit your opening, that on its own doesn't usually need treatment.

Hands-On Treatment

• Work through the upper back, shoulders, neck and the muscles at the base of the skull
• The jaw muscles from the outside, at the angle of the jaw and the side of the head, with kneading and slow stripping, within your comfort
• Gentle traction and joint mobilisation for a stiff jaw joint, never quick or forceful movements
• Some of the most helpful muscles can only be reached from inside the mouth. I only do this when it's relevant, with your informed consent and a signed consent form, using gloves, light pressure and an agreed stop signal, and you can say no at any time
• Warm or cool applications in the clinic, and I'll show you how to use heat or cold safely at home

At Home

1. NHS (2023) Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
2. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (2026) TMD (temporomandibular disorders). Available at: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tmd (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
3. Gauer, R.L. and Semidey, M.J. (2015) 'Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders', American Family Physician, 91(6), pp. 378–386. Available at: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0315/p378.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).