Headaches don’t always start in your head. Sometimes the pain actually begins somewhere else, like the jaw. That might sound surprising at first, but many people never think to connect their regular headaches with how their mouth or face feels. If you’ve been dealing with tightness in your jaw or soreness around your temples, it might be time to look closer.

A TMJ headache is linked to stress or pressure in the jaw joint, often showing up as pain around your head or face. It can be hard to tell the difference between this kind of headache and one brought on by eye strain, stress, or poor sleep. But if the pain sticks around or shows up after chewing or waking up, there’s a good chance your jaw is playing a part. We see this happen a lot with people around Austin, Texas, and most don’t even realize what’s really causing the pain.

When a Headache Starts in the Jaw

The jaw joint is called the TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint. It sits on both sides of your head, close to your ears, and helps you chew, yawn, and talk. When this joint gets tight or doesn't move the right way, it can send pain to other parts of the face, neck, or even shoulders.

This kind of pressure doesn’t always feel sharp. Many people feel it more as a steady ache or tightness. That tightness often builds throughout the day and ends up becoming a headache by evening. Some people even start feeling the pain shortly after they wake up.

The way we move or hold our mouths during the day can also bring stress into this area. Things like clenching your teeth while sitting in traffic or grinding during sleep can slowly overload the joint. That tension builds and spreads, and without noticing it, you’re suddenly dealing with a tmj headache in the middle of your forehead or behind your eyes.

Common Signs That Point to TMJ Problems

It’s easy to brush off little changes around the jaw because many of them don't seem serious at first. But take a moment to think through what your body might be telling you. There are several signs that the jaw joint might be under strain, and those signs often show up long before a full-blown headache does.

Some signs that may point to a jaw-related issue include:

• A clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth
• Soreness or tiredness around your cheeks after eating
• A feeling of pressure in your face or under your ears
• Morning headaches or face pain, especially if you clench overnight
• Pain that feels like it starts at the base of the skull or runs down into the shoulders

You might notice one or two of these things here and there. But when they start showing up regularly alongside headaches, it's worth paying attention. These small signs add up and often show a clear picture when looked at together.

How Dr. Smitherman Helps Connect the Dots

Dr. Smitherman spends a lot of time looking beyond just the mouth when it comes to headaches. She listens closely and notices patterns that many people miss on their own. That can include how we breathe during the day, whether we let our jaw rest or stay tense, or how tightly we hold our shoulders.

She also checks posture and how the head balances on the neck. A forward-leaning head position, for example, can push the jaw into a strained position. Over time, that small shift can lead to big problems. Dr. Smitherman focuses on helping patients become more aware of these habits. She’s not just checking teeth or joints, but watching the full picture of how the body deals with stress and tension.

Rather than rushing into big fixes, she pays close attention to simple changes. That might be how you sit at work, how your tongue rests, or whether you grind your teeth without realizing it. These small choices often play a huge part in making jaw pain and headaches better.

Why Waiting Often Makes Headaches Worse

It’s common to think headaches are just something we have to live with. A lot of people wait months, or even longer, before asking if their headaches might be linked to jaw strain. By the time they look for help, the pain can be showing up more often and spreading into new areas like the neck or upper back.

We believe it’s worth looking into the jaw earlier rather than waiting for things to get harder to manage. Paying attention to how your jaw feels during the day, especially if you're getting repeat headaches, might help you catch a problem early on.

Getting support at the right time can stop the pain from becoming a daily thing. When we bring more awareness to how the body moves and rests, we often find easier paths toward comfort. We’ve seen how careful attention and small shifts can calm tension before it gets too locked in.

A Calmer Head Starts with a Happier Jaw

Headaches are tough to deal with, especially when it’s hard to pin down what’s causing them. But when pain keeps showing up near the temples or behind the jaw, it might be good to pause and look at how the whole head and neck are working. TMJ tension doesn’t just stop at the jaw. It can pull other parts of the body into the mix too.

We’ve seen that headache relief often begins when the jaw gets the right kind of care. Dr. Smitherman pays attention to the everyday patterns that might be weighing the joint down. And when those patterns are seen and adjusted, many people find that their headaches become less intense or even fade over time.

Small shifts and steady support can make a big difference. When your jaw feels better, there’s a good chance your head will too.

Headaches showing up more often along with jaw tension might be more connected than you think. We take time to look at everyday patterns that could be behind a recurring issue like a TMJ headache, especially for people here in Austin, TX. Dr. Smitherman focuses on the small things that often get overlooked, paying attention to how pain builds and where it starts. At Nonsurgical TMJ Austin, we know how much a sore jaw can affect how you feel overall, so when you're ready to find out what might be behind your headaches, reach out to us to get started.