Jaw grinding (clenching and grinding of the jaw muscles) is actually part of what's called bruxism — even when it's not just the teeth involved. It can happen while you're awake or asleep, and many people don't even realize they're doing it until symptoms show up.
Common signs to watch for include:
- Jaw pain or soreness Show Full Answer
Jaw grinding (clenching and grinding of the jaw muscles) is actually part of what's called bruxism — even when it's not just the teeth involved. It can happen while you're awake or asleep, and many people don't even realize they're doing it until symptoms show up.
Common signs to watch for include:
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Facial pain
- Headaches, especially in the morning
- Jaw stiffness or restricted movement
- Ringing in the ears There's a real connection between jaw grinding and migraines. The jaw joint (TMJ) and migraine share overlapping pain pathways, meaning jaw tension can actually trigger a migraine attack. As one MyMigraineTeam member shared, "Due to gritting my teeth, my jaw has been hurting. I wonder if it is contributing to my migraine."
Research suggests that people who clench or grind their jaw are more likely to experience migraine attacks. In some cases, the jaw pain can travel upward and set one off. If jaw grinding seems to be a migraine trigger, there are treatment options worth discussing with a doctor or dentist:
- Nightguard or occlusal splint
- Botox injections
- Physical therapy
- Relaxation techniques
- Medication
Getting a proper evaluation is important, since jaw pain and migraine symptoms can overlap and sometimes be mistaken for one another.
July 20
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