TMJ: jaw clicking, clenched teeth and tension

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most loaded joints in the body: we use it with every word, swallow and bite. And one of the most underestimated.

Signs something is off: clicking or crunching when opening the mouth, limited opening, pain or fatigue in the jaw when chewing, a habit of clenching the teeth, bruxism (grinding at night), tension in the temples and neck, sometimes ringing in the ears and headaches.

Why this is not only about the jaw. The muscles controlling the lower jaw attach to the skull bones and are closely linked with the neck muscles. Through fascial chains, tension from the jaw travels into the neck, shoulder girdle and further down — and the other way round. A clenched jaw can sustain a headache, and a problematic neck can stop the jaw from working freely.

There is also a link with stress. The jaw is among the first to react to emotional tension: we literally grit our teeth. Night bruxism often comes from exactly there.

How I work. My toolkit includes RESET (the Rafferty method), a gentle technique for the TMJ which I studied at two levels. It involves no forceful input: releasing the masticatory muscles and related structures, as well as the neck and the base of the skull, because looking at the jaw in isolation makes no sense.

A must: teamwork. An osteopath does not replace a dentist or an orthodontist. If the problem lies in the bite, missing teeth, incorrect fillings, or if a splint is needed, that is the dentist's job — I work with the muscular and fascial side and release tension, but I do not correct the bite.

The best result usually comes from the combination: the dentist or orthodontist handles the teeth and the bite, while I handle the surrounding muscles, the neck and general tension. Work with stress is added when needed.