The TMJ: The Quiet Grind Between the Jaw and the Neck
The TMJ: The Quiet Grind Between the Jaw and the Neck
There’s a small hinge beneath your cheekbone, the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ.
It’s a compact, restless little thing. It moves every time you talk, chew, clench, argue, yawn, or swallow your frustration instead of saying what you need to.
It’s easy to forget about, until it starts to ache.
Then suddenly you’re aware of every click, every dull throb that crawls from your jaw to your temples. Sometimes the pain drifts behind the eyes, sometimes it lingers in the neck, sometimes it just hums quietly in the background like static.
But here’s the thing: the TMJ doesn’t work alone. It’s tied, almost conspiratorially, to the upper cervical spine: those first two vertebrae that hold your head aloft like the base of a fragile tower. When one falters, the other follows.
What causes the pain
TMJ dysfunction rarely has a single cause. It’s a story written by tension, posture, emotion, and time.
Clenching and grinding (the language of stress): You might not realise you’re doing it, but your jaw does. It keeps score; in the muscles, in the joints, in the morning ache that greets you before coffee.
Postural collapse: Long hours bent toward screens, shoulders curling forward, head drifting out of alignment. The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull tighten, and the jaw shifts to keep your gaze level with the world.
Trauma: Whiplash, a hit to the jaw, or even a long dental procedure where your mouth stayed open too long, all can twist the mechanics out of sync.
Asymmetry: We all have habits, chewing on one side, sleeping a certain way, leaning into the same hip. Over time, those small imbalances take their toll.
The TMJ and upper neck share nerve pathways, the trigeminal and upper cervical nerves, so when one becomes irritated, the other joins in
When the Jaw and Neck Fall Out of Step
Your head balances delicately at the top of your spine, held there by a complex web of muscles and ligaments. When it shifts, even slightly, the jaw has to adjust.
And that’s when the dominoes start to fall:
Tight neck muscles changing how the jaw opens and closes.
Jaw dysfunction feeds tension back into the neck and base of the skull.
Both together creates the perfect storm; headaches, facial pressure, dizziness, ear pain, even strange tooth sensitivity that isn’t really about the teeth at all.
Does It also Cause Headaches?
Absolutely!
Not the soft, fading kind, but the deep, pulsing, behind-the-eyes kind. The sort that makes the light feel too bright and the air too heavy.
TMJ-related headaches often come with:
Ache behind the eyes or temples
Pressure in the jaw, ears, or face
Pain that worsens with clenching, chewing, or yawning
That familiar tight “band” feeling around the head or base of the skull
What We Can Do About It
The good news: this isn’t a lost cause. The TMJ and the upper neck respond beautifully to care, attention, and time.
Here’s how we start to untangle it:
Free the neck: Gentle Osteopathic treatment of the cervical spine at Seaview Health Group in Beaumaris can restore motion and calm the overworked muscles that have been holding your head hostage.
Balance the jaw mechanics: Working through the pterygoids, masseter, and temporalis, the deep muscles of the jaw, to ease strain and restore symmetry.
Rebuild posture and breathing: Teaching the body how to find alignment again, how to lift the head without tension, how to breathe without clenching.
Simple home care: Warmth, gentle stretches, awareness of grinding or clenching habits, and, if needed, collaboration with a dentist for a splint.
This isn’t about quick fixes or chasing pain, it’s about restoring function between the jaw, neck, and nervous system.
The Takeaway
If you’re experiencing jaw pain, headaches, teeth grinding, or difficulty opening your mouth, seeing an experienced Beaumaris Osteopath at Seaview Health Group can make a real difference. Our team specialises in the assessment and treatment of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction, targeting the muscular and joint factors that often cause pain and restricted movement. Through hands-on therapy, tailored exercises, and postural retraining, we can help restore normal jaw function, relieve tension, and prevent flare-ups—providing a holistic, evidence-based approach to long-term relief.