Could Your Jaw Be Causing Your Headaches?
"Do your headaches always seem to start around your temples? Do they get worse after chewing, talking for long periods, or when you wake up in the morning?"
Most people assume headaches come from stress, their neck, or migraines.
Very few consider that their jaw could be contributing.
The truth is, problems involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles that move the jaw can contribute to headaches in some people. While the jaw is not the cause of every headache, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a recognized source of head and facial pain and often occur alongside other headache conditions.
How Can the Jaw Cause a Headache?
Your jaw doesn't work in isolation.
The muscles that move your jaw are closely connected to the muscles of your face, temples, neck, and upper cervical spine. They also share sensory pathways through the trigeminal nerve, the primary nerve responsible for sensation in the face.
Because these structures are closely connected, pain originating from the jaw can sometimes be felt somewhere else, such as the temples, forehead, around the eyes, or in front of the ears. This phenomenon is known as referred pain.
What Does a TMJ-Related Headache Feel Like?
Although everyone's symptoms are different, people with TMD commonly report:
Pain in one or both temples
Aching around the jaw or cheeks
Pain in front of the ears
Headaches that worsen with chewing or prolonged talking
Morning headaches after waking
Jaw stiffness or fatigue alongside the headache
Some people also notice clicking, limited mouth opening, or pain while chewing. Others have very little jaw pain, making the connection much harder to recognize.
Why Is It Often Worse in the Morning?
Many people with TMD unknowingly clench or grind their teeth during sleep.
Repeated muscle activity overnight can overload the muscles responsible for chewing, leaving them sore and fatigued by morning. In susceptible individuals, this may contribute to headache symptoms.
That said, not everyone who clenches develops headaches, and not everyone with headaches clenches. TMD is usually influenced by multiple factors rather than a single cause.
It's Not Always the Joint
When people hear "TMJ," they often think the joint itself is the problem.
In reality, the muscles surrounding the jaw are frequently involved. Increased muscle tension, altered jaw movement, reduced mobility, and associated neck dysfunction can all contribute to symptoms.
Stress may also increase muscle tension and clenching behaviours, which can aggravate existing symptoms.
Could It Be Something Else?
Absolutely.
Headaches have many possible causes, including migraine, tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache, medication overuse, vestibular disorders, and neurological conditions.
That's why a thorough assessment is important. The goal isn't to label every headache as "TMJ," but to determine whether the jaw is contributing to the overall picture.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment depends on the findings of the assessment.
If the jaw is contributing to your headaches, treatment may include:
Improving jaw mobility
Reducing muscle tension
Addressing cervical spine dysfunction
Restoring normal jaw movement patterns
Education regarding jaw habits and clenching
Progressive exercises to improve strength, coordination, and function
Long-term self-management strategies
For more complex cases, treatment may also involve collaboration with dentists, oral medicine specialists, psychologists, or other healthcare professionals.
The Bottom Line
Not every headache comes from the jaw, but the jaw is often overlooked.
If you have recurring headaches along with jaw pain, clicking, stiffness, difficulty chewing, or facial pain, it may be worth having your TMJ assessed. Identifying whether the jaw is contributing allows treatment to focus on the underlying factors rather than simply managing symptoms.
References:
Fernandes, G., Franco-Micheloni, A. L., Siqueira, J. T. T., Gonçalves, D. A. G., & Camparis, C. M. (2015). Parafunctional habits are associated cumulatively to painful temporomandibular disorders in adolescents. Brazilian Oral Research, 30(1), e15.
Ohrbach, R., & Dworkin, S. F. (2016). The evolution of TMD diagnosis: Past, present, future. Journal of Dental Research, 95(10), 1093–1101.
Schiffman, E., Ohrbach, R., Truelove, E., et al. (2014). Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for clinical and research applications. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache, 28(1), 6–27.
Svensson, P., Baad-Hansen, L., Pigg, M., List, T., Eliav, E., Ettlin, D., et al. (2020). Guidelines and recommendations for assessment and management of temporomandibular disorders. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 47(3), 291–301.
International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3). (2018). Cephalalgia, 38(1), 1–211.
