{"id":118,"date":"2026-03-04T21:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advancedentalclinicmd.com\/blog\/?p=118"},"modified":"2026-03-11T21:48:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:48:36","slug":"what-do-tmj-headaches-feel-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advancedentalclinicmd.com\/blog\/what-do-tmj-headaches-feel-like\/","title":{"rendered":"A Painful Analysis: What Do TMJ Headaches Feel Like?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TMJ disorders<\/a> are well-known for causing achy jaws and chewing troubles, but those aren’t the only symptoms worth noting. Issues with your temporomandibular joints can also cause serious head pain. With all that said, you might wonder: What do these “TMJ headaches” feel like? Your Catonsville dentist is here with a detailed answer for you. So, please keep reading to learn the sensations of TMJ headaches and how you can manage them better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

TMJ Disorders Can Cause Headaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While people rightly view TMJ disorders as a source of pain, their discomfort isn\u2019t limited to jaw joints. Pain from them can easily take the form of headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your TMJs \u2013 your temporomandibular joints \u2013 share a direct connection with your head. Various muscles around them act as a \u201cbridge\u201d between your jaw, cheeks, and the sides of your cranium. As a result, problems with your jaw joints (or the connecting muscles) can put stress on your head and cause headaches. An uneven bite or a tendency to clench your teeth adds to such pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, many mistake a \u201cTMJ headache\u201d for tension or migraine headaches. One study found that head pain caused by TMJ was misdiagnosed as a tension headache in 31% of research respondents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do TMJ Headaches Feel Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to how they\u2019re caused, TMJ headaches give off distinct sensations. You can often tell you have one from the feelings it prompts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a TMJ headache \u201cfeels like\u201d is rather complex at times. In most cases, it leads to a sense of pressure in one or more regions of the head. It can also leave you with a feeling that your bite has changed. If the headache is rather bad, its pain can also feel worse when you chew, yawn, or move your jaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the above describes your aching head, see your dentist or another TMJ professional quickly. They can fully confirm whether you have a full-blown TMJ disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips on Managing TMJ Headaches<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve confirmed you have a TMJ headache, you can take various steps to manage it. These include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n