Jaw pain can show up as soreness when you chew, a jaw that feels tight when you wake up, clicking, or headaches near the temples. Dentists and doctors group these problems under temporomandibular disorders, or TMD. TMJ is the jaw joint itself, and many people use the name for the pain too.
How it fits with your dentist or doctor
If you think you have TMD, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research suggests seeing a dentist or doctor. Signs to mention include a jaw that locks or will not open fully, painful clicking or grating, and a change in how your teeth fit together. Acupuncture can sit alongside that care.
Because the evidence for many TMD treatments is limited, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends starting with conservative care and avoiding treatments that permanently change the jaw joints, the teeth or the bite. Acupuncture does not change the joint or the bite.
The same guidance lists self-care that helps many people:
- eating soft foods
- heat or cold on the face, with gentle jaw stretches
- cutting back on clenching, gum chewing and nail biting
- relaxation or meditation
Many people get better without treatment. Clicking or popping without pain is normal and does not need treatment.
Is acupuncture safe?
Relatively few complications from acupuncture have been reported, but some have come from needles that were not sterile or from treatment that was not done properly. The FDA requires acupuncture needles to be sterile and labeled for single use.
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