TMD, Jaw Pain and Headache
Temporomandibular disorders, often called TMJ or TMD, are problems with the jaw joint and the chewing muscles. They can cause jaw and temple pain, and for some people they play a part in migraine.
What are TMJ and TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small but complex swivel joint. It moves your jaw up and down so you can chew, talk and yawn.
People often say “TMJ” when they mean jaw pain, but the more accurate term is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. TMD is not one condition. It covers many different reasons the jaw can hurt or stop working smoothly. The problem may be in the joint itself or in the chewing muscles around it.
Common symptoms
- Pain in the jaw area, which may come on when you chew, talk, swallow or yawn
- Pain in the temple, the flat area on the side of your head
- A clicking sound in the jaw joint
- Tight or overworked jaw muscles, sometimes with grinding or clenching
What causes it
TMD can have more than one cause. Those the sources name include:
- Bruxism, or grinding your teeth, which can overwork the main chewing muscle (the masseter) and lead to pain
- Bite problems, when the upper and lower teeth do not meet well
- Overactive chewing muscles
- Structural problems in the joint
- Nerve problems
How TMD and headache are linked
Migraine involves the trigeminal pathway, the main nerve system that carries feeling from the face and head. The jaw sits close to this pathway. Experts think a painful jaw may send signals along it that help set off a migraine attack.
It is often hard to know which came first, the jaw pain or the migraine. A few clues suggest a connection:
- Your jaw pain started before your migraine did
- Your migraine gets worse when your jaw acts up
Treating TMD often makes migraine better, but not for everyone. The National Headache Foundation also describes a TMD headache of its own, usually felt in the temple.
How it is diagnosed
There is no single test that shows whether TMD is affecting your migraine. The practical way to find out is to treat the jaw and see whether your headaches change. Care often involves more than one provider:
- Your primary care doctor, who can coordinate care and make referrals
- A dentist, some of whom focus on TMD
- An orthodontist, who can assess your bite and jaw and may take jaw X-rays
- A headache medicine specialist, who has experience with TMD and can manage treatments such as Botox
- An oral and maxillofacial (mouth, jaw and face) surgeon, usually only for cases that may need surgery
Treatment options
- Oral appliances. Mouth guards, night guards and splints from a dentist or orthodontist are a common first step. They can help with grinding and with the bite. Braces or clear aligners are sometimes used.
- Relaxation and biofeedback. Biofeedback teaches you to notice and control body responses such as muscle tension.
- Medicines. Some nerve pain medicines used for migraine may also be used for TMD.
- Botox. Injections into the chewing muscles at the jaw and temple can calm overactive muscles, ease pain and help oral appliances work better. The goal is usually not to continue injections forever, and the provider watches that the jaw muscle does not weaken so much that chewing becomes hard.
- Nerve blocks or bite correction may be considered in more severe cases.
- Surgery is a last resort, mostly for structural jaw problems that have not improved with other care.
How Dr. Park can help
Dr. Hannah Park is a dual board-certified, fellowship-trained headache medicine neurologist with over 10 years of specialized experience, and she has lived with migraine herself. She treats TMD and jaw pain, along with migraine and facial pain.
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient consultation with Dr. Park ($520): a full history review, a neurological exam, a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. The practice focuses on targeted injection treatments rather than a cycle of prescription medications. In-office options include Botox injections (call for pricing) and peripheral nerve injections. See services and fees.
Appointments are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., usually within days. The practice is direct pay with no referral needed.
When to get prompt medical care
If you are over 50 and have new pain on one side of your head or around one eye, or pain in your jaw when you chew, see a doctor right away. These can be signs of giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of blood vessels that can cause permanent vision loss if it is not treated. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for a sudden, severe headache, or a headache with fever, weakness, confusion, vision loss or trouble speaking.
Related
Sources
This page summarizes patient information from these organizations, in our own words. It is general education, not medical advice.
- Can Jaw Pain Trigger Migraine? Understanding TMD, National Headache Foundation
- The Complete Headache Chart, National Headache Foundation
- Thunderclap Headaches, American Migraine Foundation
Last updated October 27, 2026.
Jaw pain and headaches? Look at both together
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient visit with Dr. Park.