Why Does TMJ Cause Neck Pain? (& What to Do About It)

If you’ve been diagnosed with (or think you may have) a TMJ disorder, or TMD, you know the pain that comes from this delicate body part when it’s damaged. 

The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull and is responsible for every jaw movement, from talking to chewing. However, its looks are deceiving — although it’s a tiny joint, the TMJ is mighty. 

Still, as strong as it is, it isn’t impervious to harm. When the TMJ is displaced or swollen, the result can be serious discomfort in the jaw area.

But is your TMJ disorder causing your neck pain, too?

In this blog, we’ll explain why one of the common symptoms of TMJ is neck pain and how you can treat it.

What is the TMJ?

Think about how often you use your mouth throughout the day. How frequently do you talk to other people (or yourself)? Do you typically eat three meals a day? Is there snacking involved? (Be honest, we won’t tell!) Sneezing? Yawning? Laughing?

All those activities involve the TMJ, or temporomandibular joint. This delicate structure acts like a hinge, connecting the bones of the skull to the jaw. It sits in its perfectly designed seat, one right in front of each ear. When your mouth moves, the joint leaves its resting spot, moving the jaw from side to side or up and down.

But when your jaw or facial muscles aren’t working properly, the TMJ is often impacted, too. This problem is referred to as a TMD (temporomandibular disorder), which is often inaccurately called a “TMJ.”

What Causes TMJ Disorders?

Diagnosed with a TMD?

This umbrella term means you have one of over 30 types of TMJ conditions. Each has its own cause, and some TMDs have no known origin, making them challenging to treat.

Some TMD triggers are easy to recognize, coming on quickly after an injury to the head, neck, or face. Others happen gradually, with no “aha!” onset. Common underlying causes of TMJ dysfunction include:

• Bruxism - A condition where you grind and clench your teeth, which adds substantial pressure to the TMJ
• Arthritis - A disease that causes swelling and deterioration of joints
• Stress - Leading to tight muscles and clenched teeth (often related to bruxism)
• Moderate to severe malocclusion - Tooth misalignment or missing teeth

Women are also twice as likely to develop a TMD as men. This could be due to varying TMJ structures.

Types of TMDs

Some TMDS are more likely to have symptoms like neck pain than others. 

Although there are dozens of TMDs, they’re broken down into three main classes:

• Joint disorders (including discs)
• Masticatory (chewing) muscle disorders
• TMD-associated headaches

Most TMDs that affect the muscles around the TMJ are caused by clenching, grinding, or muscle spasms. When the TMJ is directly damaged due to displaced discs or jaw movement, the condition is known as internal derangement. Disorders caused by degenerative joint disease (such as osteoarthritis) are treated differently, as they often include cartilage and bone wear and tear.

Symptoms of TMDs

While every TMD situation is unique, some are easily resolved with early help, while others become chronic. The key to a quick resolution often lies in recognizing the symptoms and getting help.

But since every case is different, how can you tell if you have a TMD or something else is happening? 

The good (bad?) news is that TMJ issues usually come with certain clear-cut warning signs, such as:

• Tenderness around the jaw joint area or connected muscles (neck, shoulder, ears)
• Popping, clicking, or “hesitation” when you move the jaw
• Difficulty opening your mouth wide
• Changes in your bite, such as trouble chewing or biting your food
• Swelling on one or both sides of the face
• Toothaches
• Unexplained earaches, changes in hearing, or ringing in the ears

These symptoms can indicate a TMD, but they’re not always present. As a general rule, if you think you have a joint disorder starting (or ongoing), talk to your doctor or dentist.

Some cases of TMDs are less noticeable. They have sneakier symptoms, like headaches, migraines, dizziness, neck pain, and numbness in the fingers. These signs often make you think of a more neurological onset, but the culprit might be that pesky TMJ again.

How Neck Pain and TMDs Are Related

You know that old song, The Skeleton Dance? “The foot bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the knee bone…”

Now that it’s stuck in your head, we’ll take that same idea — that all the parts of the body are interconnected — and apply it to the TMJ.

This joint is located at the base of your ears, but is attached to the neck via a network of tissues, muscles, nerves, and bones. When any of those parts along the TMJ highway isn’t working correctly, the rest may be affected. If your TMJ is dislocated, inflamed, or otherwise out of alignment, it can cause pain in the neck, jaw, and facial muscles.

The type of pain depends on what’s going on along that TMJ highway. If the joint is swollen, inflammation in the TMJ sends pain signals to the neck, resulting in tight muscles and associated pain.

Or, your body could naturally compensate to avoid the jaw pain by tilting the head a certain way, adding extra strain on the neck muscles. Referred pain is another type of neck discomfort, occurring when the nerve pathways that connect the face, head, and neck to the TMJ cross, and one or more of those nerves are damaged.

Pinpointing the reason for your neck pain doesn’t always start at the neck. If you’ve had ongoing shoulder, neck, and/or face discomfort, talk to your doctor to find out if it’s connected to the TMJ.

Treating Neck Pain Caused by a TMD

Neck pain can derail your whole day. If you can’t get comfortable, it can make quality sleep impossible. You want to treat the problem, but how?

Googling your neck pain gives you a vast array of possible treatment options. Using these can seem like throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping something sticks.

However, when you know the underlying cause of your TMJ disorder, the therapeutic solutions become more specific.

Professional Help for TMD Treatment

TMDs caused by arthritis require a specialist’s care. Your doctor will help you manage pain and reduce inflammation using non-surgical techniques, such as:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Splints
• Physical therapy
• Behavioral changes

In some cases, injections of corticosteroids are given for pain relief, and muscle relaxants can be prescribed. For severe arthritis TMD sufferers, surgery may be an option.

Degenerative joint disease-related TMDs are usually treated with

• Physical therapy
• NSAIDs
• Muscle relaxants
• Dietary changes

Sometimes, corticosteroid injections can help.

If the cause of your TMD is bruxism-related, your doctor may recommend a custom-fit night guard to wear while sleeping. These oral appliances are worn over the upper or lower teeth, keeping the two arches from touching.

This protective barrier prevents the grinding that overstresses your jaw muscles, giving them a chance to rest. The goal is for your inflamed TMJ and swollen facial muscles to return to normal over time. 

While you should talk to your TMD specialist about wearing a night guard, you don’t have to pay specialist prices to have one fabricated. Our experts at JS Dental Lab can create a high-quality, professional night guard tailored to your unique mouth shape at a fraction of the cost.

General Treatment for Neck Pain Caused by TMJ

If you catch the problem early, you may not need a specialist! Many TMJ disorders go away on their own with a little TLC and a few changes in your lifestyle habits.

Start With a Night Guard

For bruxism-related TMJ problems, a night guard is the first step. Be cautious about grabbing an over-the-counter guard, though. These are your cheapest option, but they aren’t designed to fit your mouth — they’re just the general shape of the average person. 

Because they aren’t custom-made for your smile’s crooks and shifts, they can put extra strain on the jaw muscles, worsening your TMJ symptoms. To be safe, stick with a custom-made night guard.

You can still have an affordable, high-quality protective device by shopping at JS Dental Lab. 

Exercise Those Jaw Muscles the Right Way

Physical therapy is beneficial. What you learn there can change how you move your cervical spine (it’s all about neck posture) and jaw, encouraging healthy habits. These small changes can help minimize neck and shoulder pain, as well as other side effects associated with poor posture.

But if you don’t want to go to the doctor for a prescription, you can still use the ideas to get started. These simple exercises are designed for TMJ pain relief and can be done anywhere.

Rest is just as important as exercise, though. In between working out your TMJ, try to avoid chewing anything hard, sticky, or chewy. Steak, apples, caramel, chewing gum, and, yes, pen caps are off the menu while your joints and muscles are healing. 

Relieve the Pain At Home

While waiting for the inflammation and other damage to heal, you want the pain to go away. OTC anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can help, but if you don’t want to take medicine, consider using one (or all) of the following pain-relief techniques:

• Hot packs or hot showers can relieve muscle tension and soothe stress. Heat therapy promotes healing by enhancing blood flow to the affected area, reducing stiffness and pain.
• Using cold packs for pain relief numbs the nerves in the area (temporarily) and is great for inflammation because it decreases circulation, which reduces swelling.
• Gentle massage to the area directly below the ears may provide relief.
• Mindfulness techniques, like yoga, meditation, walking in nature, or journaling, have been linked with decreased pain. Stress relieving strategies are also ideal ways to reduce bruxism behaviors.

Keep in mind that TMJ disorders should never be ignored. If you try at-home care for a couple of weeks and it doesn’t seem to be helping, make an appointment with your doctor. You may need other conservative approaches to treat TMJ, such as physical therapy or prescription muscle relaxants. Some doctors even prescribe Botox injections for migraines caused by TMDs.

Conclusion

Neck pain is one of those symptoms that we often ignore until it affects our ability to function. When it’s caused by a TMD, it isn’t always easy to recognize. By the time you do, you may have chronic pain that needs to be managed by a healthcare specialist. 

Why take the chance? If you’re feeling facial pain and discomfort in the lower jaw or tension in your neck and upper back, your muscles might need some help relaxing. 

Visit our JS Dental Lab site and explore the custom-made night guards available. Your neck pain relief could be a mail-order impression kit away!