What Is Wrong With My Jaw? A Look At The Muscles Involved

It can sneak up suddenly and without warning. Maybe you had an extra-long appointment at the dentist's office and woke up the next morning feeling like your jaw had seized up. Maybe you’re a chronic teeth grinder or an avid gum chewer. Or perhaps you have no clear reason—one day, you simply woke up with something wrong with your jaw.

Now, every time you open your mouth, it’s accompanied by unsettling pops and clicks, like popcorn in a microwave. Maybe your jaw jerks or catches as it moves, or worse—it hurts. So, what’s going on with your jaw? And more importantly, what can you do to feel better?

Overworked Muscles Could Be The Answer To Your Jaw Symptoms

There are several possible causes of jaw symptoms, many of which your dentist can identify and help resolve. One potential factor that your dentist may not be able to address and resolve is muscle tension and overuse. When a muscle is overused, meaning it stays tight for longer than it should, it becomes tense and fatigued, much like you do when life is stressful and you’re overworked. Think of a long visit to the dentist with your mouth held open unnaturally wide or the constant strain on your jaw muscles from grinding your teeth or chewing gum. Over time, the muscle locks into a tense position, developing painful knots (trigger points) that can pull on or compress surrounding muscles. This chain reaction can lead to pain, restricted movement, and dysfunction in the jaw and surrounding areas.

Muscles That Can Create Jaw Symptoms

Now that we’ve explored how muscles can contribute to jaw symptoms, let’s examine which specific muscles may be responsible. Below is a list of muscles, organized in the order a therapist would assess them to identify the primary source of your discomfort.

1. Sternocleidomastoid

This large, easily located muscle runs along the front of the neck and becomes more prominent when you turn your head to the side. Its primary function is to rotate the head and help stabilize it as the body moves.

Issues It Can Cause:

• Face and jaw pain

• Pain in the top and back of the head

• Balance problems (this is because the muscle supports the head and keeps it stable as you move, if it becomes overly tightened, it can send confusing signals to the brain, leading the brain to get the wrong message as to how your head is positioned)

How It Can Be Overworked:

• Tilting your head back for long periods of time (such as staring at the ceiling)

• Holding your neck to the side for long periods of time (like holding the telephone to your ear with your shoulder)

• Too much chest breathing, often caused by high levels of stress and tension

2. Masseter

This is the primary muscle responsible for jaw movement and the most common source of jaw pain. Massaging this muscle may bring relief from the tension.

Issues It Can Cause:

• TMJ type pain

• Restricted opening of the jaw

• Tooth sensitivity to heat and cold

• Sinus type pain

• Deep Ear pain and itch

How It Can Be Overworked:

• Excessive gum chewing

• Tooth decay

• Teeth grinding

• Dental work

3. Pterygoid Muscles

These muscles are located deep within the lower jawbone and are the most common source of TMJ pain.

Issues They Can Cause:

• TMJ pain

• Restriction on opening the mouth all the way

• Pain in swallowing

• Sinus pain

How They Can Be Overworked:

• Excessive gum chewing

• Teeth grinding

• Dental work

4. Buccinator

This cheek muscle is located between the masseter and the mouth. Its primary function is to pull the corners of the mouth back, contributing to facial expressions. Massage for this muscle is typically performed inside the mouth.

Issues It Can Cause:

• Painful chewing and swallowing

How It Can Be Overworked:

• Extended playing of a wind or brass instrument

  
  

What You Can Do To Relieve Your Jaw Symptoms

Massage The Muscles

A great starting point for relieving overused muscles is with massage. If you're wondering whether certain muscles might be contributing to your jaw symptoms, you can try locating and massaging them yourself. If massaging these areas causes significant pain or triggers the jaw pain you're experiencing, they could very well be part of the problem. From there, you can either attempt short self-massage sessions to see if it alleviates the discomfort, or you can seek help from a massage therapist. Keep in mind that the masseter and buccinator muscles can only be accessed from inside the mouth, so a therapist will use gloves when working on these areas.

Avoid Further Overworking The Muscle

Although some causes of jaw overuse—such as dental work—are unavoidable, there may be other contributing factors you can minimize or eliminate. Try reducing or stopping gum chewing, as it can overwork the jaw muscles. Stress and tension are also common culprits, leading to jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Finding ways to manage stress, practicing relaxation techniques, and using mental cues to remind yourself to relax your jaw throughout the day can help prevent and ease jaw discomfort.

Corrective Techniques

If you often find yourself clenching your jaw, try training yourself to hold your mouth slightly open—just enough to keep your lips together while allowing your jaw to relax. Rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth. This is a natural resting position for the jaw and can help release tension in the masseter and other jaw muscles.

If your jaw isn’t tracking properly when you open and close your mouth, try this simple exercise: Hold your hands in front of your face in a "praying" position, with your thumbs resting gently on the bottom of your chin. Apply light pressure with your thumbs as you slowly open your mouth, providing slight resistance to the movement. Repeat this exercise a few times each day to help retrain your jaw’s movement and improve its function.

If you suspect that muscle tension may be contributing to your jaw symptoms and are ready to take the next step toward healing, book a session today. Let’s work together to help you feel and move better!

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Much of the information I share in this article comes from Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Therapy Manual by Janet G. Travell, M.D., and David G. Simons, M.D. This two-volume set transformed my approach to massage, and I have been able to help many of my clients by applying their research and methods. While these books are quite technical and go into more depth than most people need, I highly recommend The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies, NCTMB, for an easy-to-read and practical guide for learning more and treating your own trigger points.