The festive season is here! December brings us sunny summer days, Christmas celebrations, and the excitement of the New Year. But for some, all the extra eating, chatting, and even the stress of holiday planning can trigger a less festive issue—jaw pain, also known as TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain.

What is TMJ Pain?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull and helps you eat, speak, and yawn.  When this joint or the surrounding muscles become irritated, it can cause pain, clicking, or even locking in the jaw.  TMJ pain often stems from muscle tension, teeth grinding (bruxism), or habits like chewing gum excessively, or sleeping in odd positions (Such as on the sofa after a big Christmas meal) —things that can become more frequent during the festive season.

Anatomy of the Jaw

The TMJ is formed by the temporal bone of the skull and the mandible (lower jaw), with an articular disk of cartilage sitting between them to cushion and guide smooth, pain-free jaw movements.  These are further supported by muscles and ligaments. These muscles include the masseter (cheek muscle), temporalis (on the sides of your head), and smaller muscles deep in the jaw. The joint itself can become irritated or inflamed, but pain can also come from the surrounding muscles and tissues.

Common pain locations include:

• Jaw and cheeks: You might feel soreness or tightness in these areas, especially when chewing or talking.
• Temples: Pain can radiate upward to the sides of your head, sometimes resembling a headache.
• Ears: The joint is located close to your ears, so discomfort might feel like ear pain or fullness
• Neck and shoulders: Tension in the jaw can affect surrounding muscles, causing pain to spread.
• Clicking: This happens when the disk slips out of place and the jawbone has to "jump" back onto it during movement.
• Locking: If the disk gets stuck out of position it can temporarily block jaw movement and cause a ‘locking’ sensation

Why the Holidays Can Trigger TMJ Pain

Christmas and New Year are filled with activities that might stress your jaw.  Endless conversations at barbecues, enjoying chewy Christmas treats like toffee, poor sleep quality and conditions, or the stress of last-minute shopping and wrapping can all contribute to jaw discomfort.  For some, grinding their teeth in their sleep—often linked to stress—might increase during the busy holiday period.

What Can a Physiotherapist Do?

Physiotherapists can help manage TMJ pain with tailored treatment. This might include:

• Hands-on techniques to release tight muscles around the jaw, neck, and shoulders.
• Exercises to improve jaw movement and reduce stiffness.
• Advice on posture and stress management, which are key during the holidays.

Take Care This Summer

If jaw pain is stopping you from enjoying the season, don’t suffer through it. Visit one of our physiotherapists to get the care you need. Let’s make sure you can fully enjoy Christmas dinner, laugh at New Year’s parties, and soak up the best of summer pain-free!