Jaw Pain and Acupuncture
What Causes Jaw Pain?
Jaw pain can be caused by dental conditions, arthritis in the temporomandibular joint, teeth grinding, gum disease, sinus infection, or trauma. The most common type of jaw pain I see is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) caused by clenching or grinding the teeth. This often manifests as jaw pain and can also contribute to and cause headaches, neck and shoulder pain. It can also eventually effect the enamel of the teeth, the alignment and integrity of the joints in the mouth and jaw. Chronic inflammation and pain in the area can also eventually lead to arthritis.
What is TMJ?
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) of the jaw. Those that experience jaw pain often refer to it as ‘TMJ’ or more accurately, “TMJ disorders are conditions affecting the jaw joints and surrounding muscles and ligaments. It can be caused by trauma, an improper bite, arthritis or wear and tear. Common symptoms include jaw tenderness, headaches, earaches and facial pain.” (Mayo Clinic)
Healthline says, “The muscles of the TMJ run along your jaw and cheeks, and sometimes these muscles can cause pain — even headaches. When the muscles in your jaw tense up — like when you grind your teeth — the pain can spread to other TMJ muscles alongside your cheeks and on the sides and top of your head, causing a headache.”
Headaches are the fifth most common reason for people to visit the emergency department according to a study by Luciani et. al 2020. Many headaches stem from neck, jaw or dental pain.
The TMJ is a hinge that connects the lower jaw to the skull. Pain and disorders of the jaw or TMJ can be caused by grinding or clenching the teeth, misalignment of the jaw, arthritis in the joint, stress that causes tension in the facial muscles or clenching, injury to the jaw, TMJ or muscles of the head and neck.
Acupuncture and Jaw Pain
There are many acupuncture points on the face and jaw that relate to digestive organs such as the Stomach, Gallbladder, the Large Intestine and Small Intestine channels. Many of these points can be used to release tension the muscles of the jaw and face and reduce inflammation in the temporomandibular joint. This type of treatment can be extremely relaxing for those with jaw pain. Acupuncture can also generally reduce inflammation and pain while also calming the nervous system to help manage stressors that contribute to jaw pain.
A randomized control trial found the acupuncture point Hegu reduced overall pain and tightness for those who received treatment for jaw pain. ( Shen et. al 2009). Another study (Smith et. al 2007), also found improvements for those who received acupuncture for temporomandibular joint myofascial pain. This study found significance in using the acupuncture point Xiaguan. Both studies also compared acupuncture versus sham acupuncture (non-specific acupuncture points) and both showed that acupuncture had better results than sham acupuncture which can be considered when considering treatment from an East Asian Medicine trained practitioner versus those who use “dry needling”, that only requires a short amount of training without a comprehensive background for acupuncture or Chinese Medicine theory.
Because the cause of jaw pain can vary, it is important to consider your unique experience with your condition. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can sometimes occur as a result of stress and/or habit. In which case, working with a therapist on stress management could be important. Acupuncture is additionally great at helping patients balance the nervous system as well as breaking habits that stem from stress reactivity. Please be sure to also discuss your jaw pain with your dentist, physical therapist and/or psychotherapist. Jaw clenching and grinding can affect the integrity of your teeth, jaw alignment and structure so it is important to take it seriously and try to get to the root cause of the problem.
Written by Dr. Emily, DACM on 5/10/25, published on 7/7/25
You might also be interested in reading: Acupuncture for Depression, Balancing the 5 Spirits and 7 Emotions, Runner’s Knee and Acupuncture
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Sources
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). TMJ disorders: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
Shen, Y. F., Younger, J., Goddard, G., & Mackey, S. (2009). Randomized clinical trial of acupuncture for myofascial pain of the jaw muscles. Journal of Orofacial Pain, 23(4), 353–359
Smith, P., Mosscrop, D., Davies, S., Sloan, P., & Al-Ani, Z. (2007). The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular joint myofascial pain: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Dentistry, 35(3), 259–267.