How can bruxism cause headaches? Bruxism causes morning, tension, and migraine headaches via jaw muscle fatigue and trigeminal sensitization. Learn the types, triggers, and relief options.
Written by Ann C. McCulloch, MBA | Medically Reviewed by Bradley Allen Eli, DMD, MS
Getting rid of jaw pain on one side starts with figuring out what’s actually causing it, since the right treatment depends entirely on the source. The most common cause by far is a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which usually responds well to conservative, at-home management. But because a handful of less common causes need urgent attention instead, it’s worth knowing the difference before starting treatment.
Temporomandibular disorder is the most frequent cause of one-sided jaw pain, but it’s not the only possibility. Here’s how the more common causes typically present:
A small number of causes of jaw pain are genuinely urgent, and it’s worth knowing what they look like so you don’t mistake them for a routine jaw problem.
Jaw pain can, in some cases, be a sign of reduced blood flow to the heart, and this is particularly important for women to know, since women are more likely to experience atypical heart attack symptoms without classic chest pain. A systematic review of the available evidence found that when jaw or facial pain is caused by cardiac ischemia, it’s about six times more likely to affect both sides of the jaw than just one side — a pattern that’s the opposite of typical TMD or dental pain, which is usually one-sided. It’s worth noting that the evidence behind this specific ratio comes from a relatively small body of case reports and cohort studies, so it should be treated as a useful pattern rather than a definitive rule.
The clearest warning sign isn’t really the side the pain is on, though — it’s whether the pain comes on with exertion (walking, climbing stairs, physical activity) and eases with rest, and whether it’s accompanied by chest pressure, arm or back pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating. Jaw pain with no dental or TMJ findings that specifically comes on with exertion should prompt urgent cardiac evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach.
Once a dentist, physician, or orofacial pain specialist has ruled out the causes above and confirmed TMD as the source, a stepwise, conservative-first approach is well-supported by research. A large systematic review and network meta-analysis of TMD treatments, published in the BMJ, found the most effective approaches for meaningful pain relief were cognitive behavioral therapy combined with biofeedback or relaxation, therapist-assisted jaw mobilization, and manual trigger point therapy — with supervised jaw exercises, stretching, and postural exercises also showing solid benefit.
“Pain on one side of the jaw often begins as a localized musculoskeletal problem, but if it persists, the nervous system can become sensitized and amplify pain signals. This is one reason early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are so important in preventing acute jaw pain from becoming chronic,” explains Bradley Eli, DMD, MS, an orofacial pain specialist.
A practical starting point at home combines several of these elements at once: jaw rest and a soft-food diet to unload the painful side, heat or ice to calm the muscles, an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen for inflammation, and gentle jaw stretching once the acute pain has calmed down. The Speed2Treat® Home Healing Kit was built around this same acute orthopedic approach — it pairs the QuickSplint® anterior bite guard, made at home in minutes and worn short-term while you sleep, with a hot/cold therapy wrap, a pain tracker, and guided jaw exercises, giving you a structured 4-week plan to reduce muscle hyperactivity and unload the painful side of the joint while it recovers, rather than relying on any single measure alone.
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is the most common cause of one-sided jaw pain, typically presenting as a dull, constant ache that worsens with chewing, talking, or yawning.
Yes, though it’s more often associated with cardiac causes when it affects both sides of the jaw rather than just one. The clearer warning sign is jaw pain that comes on with physical exertion and eases with rest, especially alongside chest, arm, or back discomfort.
Dental pain is usually localized to a single tooth and worsens with hot, cold, or biting pressure. TMJ-related pain is more of a broad, dull ache that worsens with jaw movement like chewing or yawning, and often comes with clicking or popping.
See a doctor promptly if jaw pain comes on with exertion, if there’s a growing lump in the jaw or neck, if you have fever with difficulty opening your mouth, or if pain is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing.
A soft-food diet, jaw rest, heat or ice, and an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen are typically the first steps, often combined with an anterior bite guard to reduce muscle tension and unload the joint.
This depends on the cause and how early it’s addressed. Many cases of TMD-related jaw pain improve within a few weeks with conservative treatment, though some cases take longer or require additional therapies.
