
Do you get jaw pain, clicking, and popping every time you open your mouth? Does it lead to pain every time you eat, brush your teeth, and yawn? These are clear signs of a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD is classified as dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), your jaw, or your muscles of mastication (the muscles you use to chew). TMD affects 33% of Americans, but lucky for you, physical therapy is an excellent form of treatment for these conditions.
Common Signs and Symptoms of TMD: restricted mouth opening, chronic facial pain, headaches, and clicking and crackling at the jaw. Causes of TMD include hyperactivity of the muscles of mastication, stress, anxiety, trauma, sleeping disorders, and even dysfunction of the cervical spine (your neck). But how does the TMJ and your neck relate? The trigeminal nerve, a nerve that innervates your upper cervical spine, also innervates your muscles of mastication. This means that a tight and immobile neck can be contributing to TMD symptoms. All of these signs and symptoms can truly affect activities of daily living and cause unnecessary stress to our lives.
TMD has two main classifications:
1) Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (MTMD)
2) Disc Displacement
The first classification, MTMD, pertains to pain in your jaw originating from your chewing muscles: masseters, pterygoids, and temporalis. MTMD can result in pain every time you eat or open and close your mouth.
The second classification, Disc Displacement, pertains to disorders of an articular disc that glides forward and backward between your TMJ as you open and close your mouth. Disc displacement can lead to that clicking and popping when opening and closing your mouth.
So how do you know what kind of TMD you have? Below are a few quick tests you can perform at home with just two popsicle sticks! It is also important to note that both muscles and joints can be impaired in cases of jaw pain.
Self Assessment A: Lateral Deviation Test
- Does your jaw deviate to the Left or Right?
- If yes, this is likely more of a joint/disc dysfunction
- If no, this is more likely a muscular issue
- Does your jaw click and pop?
- If yes, this is likely more of a joint/disc dysfunction
- If no, this is more likely a muscular issue
Self Assessments B: Bite Test
- If biting causes more pain, your chewing muscles (muscle of mastication) could be the issue
- If pain is on the opposite side of the mouth, the TMJ is more likely the issue
Physical therapy can also provide a more extensive examination of the mouth with specific measurements of mouth opening/closing, jaw deviation, and biomechanics of the TMJ. Once it is determined what type of TMD is present, manual therapy from a physical therapist has been shown to greatly improve TMD symptoms. A physical therapist can help you with body work on those painful muscles of mastication, treating those tight muscles of your neck, improve that forward head posture, and facilitate proper mechanics at the TMJ to improve mouth opening and closing to allow you to eat pain free!
For now, here are 5 Exercises Everyone With Jaw Pain Must Try!




