Jaw Pain, TMJ and TMD Chiropractor in Fremantle
Jaw pain has a way of creeping into everything: eating, talking, training, sleeping. If your jaw clicks, aches, tires when you chew or will not open as far as it used to, you are not alone. It is something we see often alongside neck pain and headaches.
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At North Fremantle Chiropractic, our chiropractors assess your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the muscles that move it and your upper neck together, because they work as one system. You get a clear explanation of what we find, a conservative care plan, and a straight answer if your jaw needs a dentist or GP instead.
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No referral needed. Book online or call 0414 316 261.
What is TMJ dysfunction (TMD)?
Your temporomandibular joints sit just in front of each ear and connect your lower jaw to your skull. They let you open, close, chew, speak, yawn and swallow, and they are among the most complex joints in the body.
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"TMJ" is the name of the joint. "TMD", short for temporomandibular disorder, is the umbrella term for problems with the joint, the small disc inside it or the chewing muscles around it. Most people say "TMJ" when they mean TMD, and both describe the same thing.
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Common contributors include:
Clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism), often during sleep or under stress
Sustained tension in the jaw, face and neck muscles
Neck stiffness and forward head posture, especially with long hours at a desk or on a phone
Previous trauma to the jaw, face or neck, including whiplash
Long dental appointments or recent dental work
Bracing and clenching through heavy lifts or high-intensity training
Poor sleep and stress, which tend to turn up the volume on all of the above
Symptoms of TMJ and jaw dysfunction
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Jaw pain or tenderness, particularly around the joint in front of the ear
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Clicking, popping or grinding sounds when you open or close your mouth
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Limited opening, or a jaw that catches, locks or swings to one side
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Facial pain or tension, especially in the cheeks and temples
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Headaches, often around the temple or ear
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Neck pain and upper back tension
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Ear pain or a feeling of fullness in the ear without an ear infection
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Jaw muscles that tire quickly when you chew
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Clenching or grinding, or waking with a sore jaw
How we assess jaw pain and TMJ, step by step
Jaw and neck, assessed together
Every jaw assessment at NFC covers both the jaw and the neck. Here is what that involves.
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1. Your history
We start by listening. When did it start, what makes it worse, and what have you already tried? We ask about clenching and grinding, dental work and splints, previous injuries, headaches, ear symptoms, sleep, stress and training. Your answers shape the rest of the examination.
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2. How far your jaw opens
We check how far you can comfortably open your mouth, along with side-to-side movement and how far your lower jaw slides forward. It gives us a reference point to compare against at later visits.
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3. The quality of your jaw movement
As you open and close, we watch how smoothly your jaw moves and the path it takes. A jaw that swings to one side and comes back to centre tells us something different from one that drifts to one side and stays there, or one that moves in jerks. Both help us work out which joint or muscles are involved.
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4. Checking joint sounds
Clicks, pops and grinding are noted, along with when in the movement they happen. Plenty of jaw clicks are painless. The timing of a sound, and whether it comes with pain or catching, helps us understand what is happening inside the joint.
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5. Facial, jaw and neck muscles
We look at and feel the muscles of your face and jaw, including the masseter (the thick muscle at the angle of your jaw) and the temporalis (across your temple), and the muscles of your neck and upper back. We are looking for tension, tenderness, trigger points and whether pressure reproduces your familiar pain.
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6. Upper neck and posture screen
We assess how your upper cervical spine moves, the joints just below your skull, along with your head position and upper back. The upper neck and jaw share muscle attachments and nerve pathways, so neck findings often show up in jaw symptoms, and the other way around.
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7. Screening for things that are not ours to treat
Throughout the examination we look for signs that point to a dental, medical or other cause. If we find them, we tell you and refer you on. See the warning signs section below.
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You leave your first visit knowing what we found, what is likely contributing, and what the plan is.
The neck and jaw connection
The muscles and nerves that control your jaw are closely linked to your upper neck. Stiffness or irritation in the upper cervical spine can feed into jaw pain, facial tension and headaches, and constant clenching loads the neck in return. That is why we assess both areas in every patient with jaw pain, and why care often includes the neck as well as the jaw.
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Conservative care options for TMJ and TMD
Care is built around what your assessment finds. Depending on your presentation, it may include:
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Soft tissue therapy
Hands-on work to the masseter, temporalis and the surrounding muscles of the jaw, face and neck. It can feel tender while it is being done, and we work within your comfort.
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TMJ adjustment and mobilisation
Chiropractic adjustment of the jaw joint alongside mobilisation, which uses controlled movements to work on how the joint glides. The technique and force are matched to you, and everything is explained before it is done.
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Upper cervical care
Mobilisation or chiropractic adjustment of the upper neck and upper back where appropriate, after screening. If a gentler approach suits you, that is what we use. Learn more about chiropractic care at NFC.
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Dry needling
Where suitable, fine filament needles into trigger points in the jaw, temple and neck muscles. Suitability is checked first. Learn more about dry needling.
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Home exercises and habits
Your home plan is a big part of care. Common elements include:
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Controlled opening: rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth, then open slowly in a straight line in front of a mirror, without letting your jaw swing to one side
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Tongue resting position: tip of the tongue resting lightly just behind your top front teeth, lips together, teeth apart
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Clenching awareness: quick check-ins through the day ("are my teeth touching?"), with reminders on your phone or desk, plus noticing when you clench or brace in the gym
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Flare-up strategies: softer foods, smaller bites, skipping chewing gum and very chewy foods, and heat over sore muscles
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Sleep and desk setup: sleeping position, pillow height and workstation changes that reduce sustained load on your jaw and neck
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Stress and recovery: practical ways to cut back the daytime and night-time clenching that often rides along with stress
Working with your dentist and GP
Chiropractic care and dental care for jaw pain sit comfortably side by side. Your dentist looks after your teeth and bite, makes occlusal splints and night guards, and manages dental causes of pain such as a cracked tooth, decay or a wisdom tooth. Your GP looks after medical causes, medications and any imaging you need. Our role is the musculoskeletal side: the jaw muscles, how the joint moves, your neck, and the habits that load them.
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If you already wear a splint or are under your dentist’s care, bring the details along. With your consent, we are happy to write to or speak with your dentist or GP so everyone is working from the same page. If your assessment points to a dental or medical cause, we tell you and refer you directly.
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When jaw pain needs a dentist, GP or emergency department
Some jaw pain is not a chiropractic problem. Please get the right care first if any of these apply.
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Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you have:
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Jaw pain with chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea. Jaw pain can be a sign of a heart problem.
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A recent blow to the jaw or face and your bite now feels different, or your teeth no longer meet properly
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A jaw that is stuck open and will not close
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Swelling of the face, jaw or neck that is spreading, or that affects swallowing or breathing
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See your dentist or GP promptly, the same day if you can, if you have:
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A jaw that has suddenly locked closed and will only open a little
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Fever, swelling, redness or a bad taste around the jaw, teeth or gums, which can point to infection
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Numbness or tingling in your face, lips or chin
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Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or jaw pain that is constant and getting worse
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A new headache at the temple, scalp tenderness, jaw pain when chewing or any change in vision, if you are over 50
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If we find any of these during your assessment, we stop, explain why, and help you get to the right place.
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What to expect at your first visit
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Your initial appointment runs for about 45 minutes.
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Bring any dental reports, your splint or night guard if you have one, any scans, and a list of your medications.
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Wear something comfortable that lets us assess your neck and upper back.
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We take your history and work through the assessment steps above.
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We explain what we found in plain language, including what we think is contributing and what is not.
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If care is appropriate, it can start on the same visit, and you go home with your first exercises.
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If something needs a dentist, GP or other practitioner, you hear that on the day.
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Some of the muscle testing can feel tender. Everything is explained before it is done, and you can ask us to stop at any point.
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Why choose NFC for jaw pain
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Jaw and neck, assessed together. Every time, because they work as one system.
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Checked, not guessed. How far your jaw opens and how well it moves are noted at your first visit, so changes can be compared at later visits.
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A training lens. Dr Nathan Bridger is a chiropractor and a strength and conditioning coach, so clenching and bracing under load are part of the conversation if you lift, do CrossFit or play sport.
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Honest plans. You get a realistic estimate after your assessment, reviewed as you go rather than locked in.
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We work with your dentist and GP. Care is coordinated, not competing.
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Local since 2020. Based in North Fremantle since March 2020, seeing people from Fremantle, East Fremantle, Mosman Park, Bicton, Palmyra and Cottesloe.
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No referral needed. Book directly online or by phone.
Jaw pain and TMJ FAQs
Q: Can a chiropractor treat jaw pain and TMJ?
A: Yes, where the cause is musculoskeletal. Chiropractors are trained to assess the jaw joint, the chewing muscles and the neck. At NFC, care for TMJ and TMD may include soft tissue therapy, TMJ adjustment and mobilisation, upper cervical care, dry needling where suitable and a home exercise plan. If your jaw pain points to a dental or medical cause, we refer you to the right practitioner.
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Q: What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?
A: TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the joint itself, and everyone has two of them. TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder, the umbrella term for pain or dysfunction in the joint and the muscles around it. In everyday use people say "TMJ" to describe the problem, so the two terms usually mean the same thing.
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Q: What is a TMJ chiropractic adjustment?
A: It is a specific, controlled movement of the jaw joint, used at NFC alongside mobilisation and soft tissue work when your assessment shows it is appropriate. The technique and force are matched to you. Adjustment of the upper neck and upper back may also be part of care. Everything is explained before it is done, and you can ask us to stop at any time.
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Q: Should I see a dentist or a chiropractor for jaw pain?
A: It depends on the cause. Tooth pain, a change in your bite, a cracked tooth or a possible infection belong with your dentist first, and splints and night guards are made by dentists. Where muscle tension, clenching habits, neck stiffness or posture are contributing, a chiropractic assessment is a reasonable place to start. Many people see both, and we are happy to liaise with your dentist.
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Q: Why does my jaw click, and should I worry about it?
A: Clicking usually relates to how the small disc inside the jaw joint moves as you open and close. A painless click with normal opening is common. It is worth having it assessed if the click comes with pain, catching, locking or reduced opening. A jaw that suddenly locks and will not open should be seen promptly by your dentist.
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Q: Can TMJ problems cause headaches or ear pain?
A: They can be linked. The jaw muscles, the upper neck and the nerves of the face are closely connected, so TMD often shows up alongside temple headaches, ear pain or a feeling of fullness in the ear without infection. Ear symptoms should still be checked by your GP to rule out an ear problem. Read more on our headaches page.
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Q: How many appointments will I need for jaw pain?
A: That depends on how long it has been there, what is driving it and how you respond to care. You get an honest estimate after your assessment, and the plan is reviewed as you go rather than locked in. Your home exercises are a big part of the plan between visits.
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Q: Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor for TMJ?
A: No referral is needed. You can book online or call 0414 316 261. Allow about 45 minutes for your initial appointment.