On this page
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. A doctor can diagnose TMJ disorder from your symptoms and how your jaw moves on camera, and plan self-care and pain relief; night guards, scans and injections are in person.
- What it is: pain and problems in the jaw joint in front of the ear and the muscles that move it, often with clicking and a stiff jaw.
- How common: about 1 in 15 people in the UK have it, mostly aged 20 to 40, and it is about twice as common in women.
- How long it lasts: it usually gets better on its own, and most people feel better after a few weeks of simple self-care.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for jaw pain with chest pain or breathlessness, or a jaw that is stuck open.
Do not book a video appointment if you have jaw pain with chest pain or pressure, breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick, a jaw that is stuck open and will not close, or a new headache with jaw pain when chewing and blurred or double vision or loss of vision. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat TMJ disorder?
Yes, usually. TMJ disorder is diagnosed from your symptoms and a look at how your jaw opens and moves, which works well on camera. Most cases settle with self-care, jaw exercises and pain relief. The doctor can prescribe when it helps, refer you to a dentist for a night guard or to a physiotherapist, and arrange a specialist when the jaw keeps locking or the pain does not settle. The doctor first checks for the causes of jaw pain that are not TMJ disorder, such as heart pain, giant cell arteritis or a dental problem.
How an online consultation helps with TMJ disorder
- Jaw movement checked on camera: How wide you can open, whether the jaw shifts to one side or clicks, and where it is tender.
- TMJ disorder or something else?: Toothache, an ear problem and giant cell arteritis can all cause jaw pain, and the pattern of your symptoms tells them apart.
- A self-care plan that works: Soft food, heat or ice, jaw exercises and the habits to drop, explained step by step.
- Help with grinding and stress: A referral to a dentist for a night guard, and support for the stress that often drives jaw clenching.
What the doctor checks in an online TMJ disorder consultation
The doctor asks about the warning signs first, then about your jaw. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: jaw pain with chest pain or breathlessness, a jaw stuck open, and, if you are over 50, a new headache, a tender scalp, jaw pain when chewing or any change in your vision.
- The pain: whether it is around the jaw, the ear or the temple, on one side or both, and whether chewing or stress makes it worse.
- Noises and locking: clicking, popping or grinding, and whether the jaw catches or locks when you open or close it.
- How wide you can open: the doctor may ask you to open as wide as is comfortable, and to move your jaw from side to side.
- Habits: grinding or clenching your teeth, often at night, chewing gum, biting your nails or pen tops.
- Your health: a blow to the face, recent dental work, arthritis, headaches, sleep, and stress or anxiety.
Before the call, sit facing the camera in good light, and check how many fingers fit between your front teeth when you open your mouth: the doctor will ask.
What is TMJ disorder?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint: the joint in front of each ear that connects the lower jaw to the skull. A TMJ disorder, also called TMD, is pain and other problems in the jaw joint and the muscles that move it. Doctors group more than 30 conditions under it, in three broad kinds:
- Joint disorders: problems inside the joint, including the soft disc that cushions it, which can click, catch or lock.
- Chewing muscle disorders: pain and tightness in the muscles you chew with, often from clenching or grinding.
- Headaches linked to TMD: headaches around the temples that come from the jaw.
How common is it?
Very common. About 1 in 15 people in the UK have TMD, mostly between the ages of 20 and 40. In the US, it affects about 5% of adults, and it is about twice as common in women as in men, especially women aged 35 to 44.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?
Pain in the jaw joint or the chewing muscles is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include:
- pain around the jaw, the ear and the temple
- clicking, popping or grinding noises when you move your jaw
- headaches around the temples
- difficulty opening your mouth fully, or a jaw that locks
- pain that is worse when you chew or when you are stressed
- pain that spreads to the face or neck, and a stiff jaw
- ringing in the ears, dizziness, or a change in how your teeth fit together
- poor sleep because of the pain
Clicking or popping without pain is common and usually needs no treatment.
What is the 3 finger test for TMJ?
It is a simple check of how wide your mouth opens. If you can fit 3 fingers between your top and bottom front teeth, your opening is in the expected normal range. If only 2 fit, you can still eat, drink and brush your teeth, but your opening is limited. Tell the doctor how many fingers fit when your jaw is at its worst.
What causes TMJ disorder, and what makes it flare up?
There is often no single cause, and several things usually play a part:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth, often at night or when you are stressed.
- Stress and anxiety, which make the jaw muscles tense.
- Wear and tear of the joint, or arthritis.
- A blow to the head or face, or a jaw that has been dislocated.
- A disc inside the joint that wears down or slips out of place.
Arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, poor sleep and smoking make TMJ disorder more likely, and it often comes with headaches, back pain, sleep problems or irritable bowel syndrome. Research does not support the idea that a bad bite or brace treatment causes it.
What causes a TMJ flare-up?
Flare-ups usually follow strain on the jaw: stress, clenching or grinding, chewing gum or hard and chewy food, wide yawning, biting your nails, poor sleep, and too much caffeine or smoking.
Is it TMJ disorder or something else?
Jaw pain is not always TMJ disorder. The pattern of your symptoms points to the cause:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you notice | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pain in front of the ear, worse when chewing, with clicking or a stiff jaw | TMJ disorder | Self-care and jaw exercises; see a doctor if it is not settling |
| Toothache, a swollen gum or pain when you bite on one tooth | A dental problem | See a dentist |
| Earache with a blocked feeling, discharge or a high temperature | An ear problem | See a doctor about earache |
| Over 50: a new headache, a tender scalp and jaw pain when chewing | Possible giant cell arteritis | Get medical advice the same day; call 112 if your vision changes |
| Jaw pain with chest pain or pressure, breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick | Possible heart attack | Call 112 |
Read more on the earache and giant cell arteritis pages.
How long does TMJ disorder last?
TMJ disorder usually gets better on its own, and most people feel better after a few weeks of simple self-care. Most symptoms are short-lived, but in more severe cases the pain can last weeks or months, and it can come back at times of stress or clenching.
Can TMJ disorder be cured permanently?
Most episodes settle completely. There is no single permanent fix, but keeping up the habits that protect your jaw, such as keeping your teeth apart, avoiding chewing gum and managing stress, lowers the chance of it coming back. Stress, genes and how a person feels pain help decide whether it becomes long-lasting, which is why talking therapies help some people.
How can you relieve TMJ pain at home?
By resting your jaw and easing the strain on it. These steps help most people:
- Eat soft food such as pasta, eggs or soup while it is sore, cut food into small pieces, and avoid biting with your front teeth.
- Use heat or ice, whichever feels better: a wrapped ice pack or a bag of frozen peas for no more than 5 minutes at a time, or a wrapped hot water bottle for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen, if they suit you, for a short time.
- Massage the sore jaw muscles gently.
- Keep your teeth apart except when you eat, and notice when you clench.
- Support your chin with your hand when you yawn, and avoid opening very wide.
- Avoid chewing gum, pen tops and nail biting.
- Try relaxation techniques and slow breathing to relax the jaw muscles.
Jaw exercises
Gentle exercises help the jaw move smoothly. Stop any exercise that makes the pain worse, and ask a physiotherapist if you are unsure:
- Rest position: rest the tip of your tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth, just behind your top front teeth, and let your teeth part.
- Controlled opening: with your tongue in that position, open and close your mouth slowly in a straight line, watching in a mirror, without letting the jaw drift to one side.
- Chin tucks: bring your chin straight back without tilting your head, and hold for a few seconds; this helps posture, which also affects the jaw.
Which TMJ disorder treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment starts simple and only steps up when simple measures have not helped. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaw pain and clicking for days or weeks, eating normally | Self-care, jaw exercises and pain relief | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Pain not settling after a few weeks of self-care | A review, stronger pain relief if it suits you, and physiotherapy | Yes | For physiotherapy |
| Grinding or clenching your teeth at night | A dentist for a night guard | Yes, to refer | For the dentist’s fitting |
| A jaw that keeps locking, or opening that stays limited | An examination, sometimes a scan, and a jaw specialist | Partly | For the examination, scan and specialist treatment |
| Over 50 with a new headache, a tender scalp and jaw pain when chewing | Urgent assessment for giant cell arteritis | No | Get medical advice the same day; call 112 if your vision changes |
| Jaw pain with chest pain or breathlessness, or a jaw stuck open | Emergency assessment | No | Call 112 or go to an emergency department |
Not sure whether your jaw pain is TMJ disorder? A doctor can tell you in one consultation what will help.
See available times →Treatment options for TMJ disorder
What you can do yourself
- Rest your jaw with soft food, and use heat or ice for the pain.
- Do your jaw exercises every day, gently.
- Keep your teeth apart, and drop gum chewing and nail biting.
- Cut down on caffeine and smoking, and work on sleep and stress.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for a few days if they suit you.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If simple painkillers are not enough, the doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory such as naproxen for a short time, after checking your stomach, kidneys, heart and other medicines. Medicines used for long-lasting pain, such as some antidepressants, are sometimes tried, although the evidence for them in TMJ disorder is limited. Opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
Treatments in person
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Treatment | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Night guard or splint, from a dentist | May ease soreness from clenching or grinding at night; it does not change your bite, the evidence that it eases pain is limited, and you should stop wearing it if it hurts |
| Physiotherapy | Jaw exercises, massage and posture work |
| Talking therapies such as CBT | Help with the stress and the long-lasting pain that keep TMJ disorder going |
| Injections | Painkilling injections through a specialist; botulinum toxin is not approved for TMJ disorder, and its benefit is unclear |
| Washing out or looking inside the joint | Arthrocentesis and arthroscopy; results vary |
| Surgery | A last resort, for joint damage that other treatments cannot help or severe symptoms that persist |
What does not help
Grinding down teeth, crowns or braces to change your bite: there is not enough evidence that they help, and they can make TMJ disorder worse. Chewing gum. Opening very wide without supporting your chin. Surgery before simpler treatments have been tried.
Special situations
Teeth grinding
If you grind or clench your teeth at night, a dentist can check your teeth and fit a night guard. Daytime clenching responds to noticing it and keeping your teeth apart.
Stress and anxiety
Stress makes jaw pain worse, and treating it eases the jaw too. The stress and anxiety pages explain the help available.
After dental treatment
Keeping your mouth open for a long time, such as when a tooth is taken out, can strain the jaw. Self-care usually settles it; tell your dentist if it does not.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When TMJ disorder is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: jaw pain, clicking and stiffness, ruling out the other causes of jaw pain, a self-care and exercise plan, pain relief, and referral to a dentist, physiotherapist or specialist.
In-person care: night guards and splints, physiotherapy sessions, scans, injections and surgery, a jaw that keeps locking, and any warning sign.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- jaw pain with chest pain or pressure, breathlessness, sweating, or feeling sick
- a jaw that is stuck open and will not close
- a new headache with jaw pain when chewing, and blurred or double vision or loss of vision
Get medical advice the same day for:
- being unable to eat or drink because of jaw pain
- a jaw that keeps locking, or that you cannot open fully
- frequent, severe headaches
- pain or tenderness at the side of your head or on your scalp, especially if you are over 50
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your jaw: sit facing the camera in good light, show how far your mouth opens, and say what makes the pain worse.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s TMJ disorder? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Earache can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about TMJ disorder
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the joint in front of each ear that connects the lower jaw to the skull. People often say TMJ when they mean TMJ disorder: pain and problems in the jaw joint and the muscles that move it.
What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?
TMJ is the jaw joint itself; TMD, or temporomandibular disorder, is the name for the problems that affect it and the chewing muscles. In everyday use, both mean jaw joint pain.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?
TMJ disorder symptoms are pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking or popping, headaches around the temples, difficulty opening the mouth fully, a jaw that locks, and pain that is worse when chewing or stressed.
What causes TMJ disorder?
TMJ disorder usually comes from a mix of things: grinding or clenching the teeth, stress, wear and tear or arthritis in the joint, a blow to the face, or a disc inside the joint that slips out of place.
What causes a TMJ flare-up?
A TMJ flare-up is usually set off by extra strain on the jaw: stress, clenching or grinding, especially at night, chewing gum or hard or chewy food, wide yawning, nail biting, resting your chin on your hand, poor sleep, and caffeine or smoking, which increase clenching. Dental work, or a long time with the mouth open at the dentist, can also start one.
How long does TMJ last?
TMJ disorder usually gets better on its own, and most people feel better after a few weeks of simple self-care. Severe cases can last weeks or months, and it can come back at times of stress.
Can TMJ be cured permanently?
Most episodes of TMJ disorder settle completely. There is no single permanent fix, but keeping your teeth apart, avoiding chewing gum and managing stress lower the chance of it coming back.
How can I prevent TMJ disorder coming back?
Keep the jaw relaxed: lips together, teeth slightly apart and the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth, and check for clenching through the day; avoid chewing gum, biting nails or pens and very hard or chewy food; support a wide yawn with a fist under the chin; manage stress with exercise, breathing or relaxation, since tension is the usual driver of TMJ disorder; and wear a night guard if a dentist has found you grind your teeth.
How do you fix TMJ in your jaw?
To fix TMJ pain, rest the jaw with soft food, use heat or ice, take paracetamol or ibuprofen if they suit you, do gentle jaw exercises, and drop habits such as gum chewing and clenching. Physiotherapy or a night guard helps if this is not enough.
What is the 3 finger test for TMJ?
The 3 finger test for TMJ is a check of how wide your mouth opens: if 3 fingers fit between your top and bottom front teeth, your opening is in the normal range. If only 2 fit, your opening is limited.
Does a mouthguard help TMJ?
A night guard from a dentist may ease TMJ soreness from grinding or clenching at night. It does not change your bite, and the evidence that it eases TMJ pain is limited, so it works best alongside self-care.
Can TMJ cause ear pain and headaches?
Yes. TMJ disorder often causes pain around the ear and headaches around the temples, and it can cause ringing in the ears. Earache with discharge or a fever points to an ear problem instead.
Can an online doctor treat TMJ disorder?
Yes, usually. A doctor can diagnose TMJ disorder from your symptoms and how your jaw moves on camera, plan self-care and pain relief, and refer you to a dentist, physiotherapist or specialist when needed.
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 20 June 2023.
- TMD (temporomandibular disorders), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), US National Institutes of Health, reviewed September 2026.
- TMJ disorders: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), 24 December 2024.
- Temporomandibular disorders: a brief guide for patients, Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England, accessed 15 October 2026.
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), Oral and Maxillofacial Department, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, reapproved August 2025.
- Jaw opening exercises and advice, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, reviewed December 2025.
- Heart attack: symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 31 March 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
Related conditions
Related reading from the Mobi Doctor blog
Speak to a doctor about TMJ disorder over video, usually within 15 minutes
Licensed doctors · open daily 7am–11pm CEST · exact price before payment
See available times →