How TMJ Dysfunction Might Be Causing Your Neck Pain
Every week in our TMJ clinic here in Melbourne, I meet people who are genuinely confused about why their neck pain never goes away. They’ve tried new pillows, deep tissue massage, stretches, heat packs, magnesium, physio, and sometimes pain medication — but the pain keeps returning.
There’s one overlooked cause that surprises almost everyone: the jaw.
Your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is one of the most powerful, neurologically connected joints in your body. When it stops working the way it’s designed to, it can quietly trigger neck pain, headaches, facial tension, dizziness, and even changes in posture. In many cases, I’ve found that people who have struggled with chronic neck pain for years actually had a jaw problem the whole time.
Let me explain how it works.
The Jaw and Neck Are Neural “Partners”
The TMJ is deeply connected to the upper neck through a shared network of cranial and cervical nerves¹. When the jaw becomes irritated, inflamed, or imbalanced, the brain often responds by tightening the upper neck muscles to protect the area.
This protective pattern can create:
- Tight suboccipital muscles
- Restriction at C1 and C2
- Head-forward posture
- Shoulder elevation
- Tension headaches
- Chronic neck fatigue
Your brain is incredibly protective. If it senses instability around the jaw, it recruits the neck muscles to help.
Over time, this protective response becomes habitual and morning stiffness or daily neck pain becomes your normal.
How TMJ Dysfunction Shows Up as Neck Pain
People are often surprised by how many neck-related symptoms can come from their jaw. Common patterns I see include:
- Pain turning the head
- An ache at the base of the skull
- Shoulder tightness that never releases
- Neck pain after chewing
- Ear fullness or jaw clicking
- Headaches that begin in the neck
- Pain with talking or yawning
When the jaw stops stabilising properly, the deep neck muscles must work harder than they’re designed to. This is why the neck feels “tired”, overactive, or tight — especially at the end of the day.
Why the Jaw Gets Overworked
Several everyday factors overload the TMJ:
- Stress and clenching
Clenching, grinding, tongue pressure, and shallow breathing all activate jaw muscles excessively². Even mild nighttime grinding can fatigue the jaw and irritate the neck by morning.
- Poor posture and rounded shoulders
Rounded shoulders and forward head posture disrupt the jaw–neck alignment. TMJ mechanics rely on an upright, balanced posture. When posture collapses, the jaw is forced to work on an angle.
- Sleep Apnoea
Apnoea can result in clenching, mouth breathing and many other facial distortions.
- Dental work and prolonged opening
Holding the jaw open for extended periods can fatigue the lateral pterygoids, altering jaw tracking.
- Overactive protective muscles
Neck and jaw muscles like the SCM, masseter, and temporalis often compensate when the TMJ becomes unstable.
Over months or years, these patterns overload the entire jaw–neck complex.
The TMJ–Migraine and Headache Link
In our migraine guide, I discuss the importance of reducing brainstem overload. One of the fastest ways to irritate the brainstem is through trigeminal nerve activation — and the trigeminal nerve is the main nerve of the jaw³.
When the trigeminal system is irritated:
- the neck tightens
- headache thresholds drop
- light/sound sensitivity increases
- dizziness or facial pain may appear
- migraines become more frequent
Treating TMJ dysfunction often reduces headache intensity, neck tightness, and the frequency of migraine episodes.
What We Do at our TMJ Clinic
When I assess TMJ-related neck pain, I don’t just look at the jaw — I look at every system connected to it.
I assess:
- Upper cervical alignment
- TMJ movement and tracking
- Cranial nerve function
- Posture and shoulder mechanics
- Tongue position and breathing patterns
- Stability of neck muscles
- Sleep posture and pillow support
- Jaw muscle activation and symmetry
Sometimes the jaw needs treatment. Sometimes the neck is the main problem. And often, the brain is the real driver — especially if posture, breathing, and sensory processing are contributing factors.
When these systems work together properly, the jaw relaxes, the neck softens, headaches reduce, and patients finally feel “normal” again.
The Takeaway
If you’ve been struggling with neck pain, headaches, jaw tension, or stiffness that never seems to improve, your TMJ may be the missing link. The jaw is deeply connected to posture, breathing, neck stability, and the brain’s protective responses — and when it’s corrected, everything else often follows.
Clinic-Focused Call to Action
If you’re in Melbourne and want a full TMJ and neck assessment, I’d love to help. You deserve to move, feel, and live without pain. Let’s get you back to feeling your best. Click here to book an appointment today
References
- Sessle, B. (2011). Brain mechanisms of orofacial pain. Pain.
- Winocur, E. (2009). Stress-related disorders and parafunctional habits. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
Schiffman, E., & Ohrbach, R. (2016). Trigeminal pain pathways and migraine. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
