Is Your Jaw Pain Coming From an Impacted Tooth? The Hidden TMJ Connection

Jaw pain, clicking, headaches, and difficulty opening the mouth are common signs of TMJ

(temporomandibular joint) issues but for many people, the root cause may be hidden deep below the gums. Impacted teeth, especially wisdom teeth, can quietly disrupt the bite, strain jaw muscles, and trigger or worsen TMJ discomfort. While the connection isn’t always direct, the effects of impacted teeth on jaw alignment and muscle behavior can significantly influence TMJ health. At Oyster Dental Care, we help patients understand this link so they can seek timely treatment and long-term relief.

How Impacted Teeth Can Contribute to TMJ Pain

1. Impacted Teeth Can Alter Your Bite (Malocclusion)

When a tooth is trapped under the gums or growing at an angle, it can crowd neighboring

teeth or shift them out of position. This subtle movement can lead to an uneven bite, where the upper and lower teeth no longer meet the way they’re supposed to. A misaligned bite forces the TMJ and surrounding muscles to work harder to compensate. Over time, this imbalance can cause jaw strain, clicking, popping, and discomfort while chewing. Even a single wisdom tooth pushing forward can throw off the entire bite.

2. Chronic Muscle Tension from Impacted Teeth

Impacted teeth often cause pressure, inflammation, or constant dull discomfort in the jaw area. The body naturally responds by tightening surrounding facial and jaw muscles. When these muscles remain tense for long periods, patients may begin to experience:

• Persistent jaw soreness

• Tension headaches

• Facial pain

• Increased clicking or popping sounds.

  This muscular strain frequently aggravates TMJ disorders, making symptoms more noticeable and harder to manage.

  
  

3. Referred Pain to the TMJ Area

The nerves that supply the teeth, jaw muscles, and TMJ are interconnected. Because of this shared pathway, pain originating from an impacted tooth can easily be felt around the TMJ

area. This type of referred pain often leads patients to believe they have a joint disorder when the real issue lies with an impacted wisdom tooth or an underlying infection.

4. Clenching and Grinding Caused by Discomfort

When an impacted tooth causes irritation or tenderness, the body may respond with unconscious behaviors like clenching or grinding. Bruxism (grinding) places enormous pressure on the TMJ, wearing down the joint and causing inflammation. Over time, this can transform occasional discomfort into chronic TMJ problems.

What Impacted Teeth Don’t Do

Impacted teeth rarely cause direct damage to the TMJ itself. Instead, they influence the bite, muscles, or nerves around the joint and those changes are what trigger TMJ symptoms.

This distinction is important because removing the cause (the impacted tooth) often reduces pressure and improves TMJ function.

Signs Your TMJ Pain May Be Linked to an Impacted Tooth

If you’re experiencing TMJ symptoms, consider whether any of these apply:

• Symptoms began as your wisdom teeth started coming in

• You feel pressure or a dull ache at the back of your jaw

• Chewing feels uneven or your bite suddenly feels “off”

• Clicking/popping worsened after your teeth shifted or crowded

• You have gum swelling, tenderness, or recurring infections around a wisdom tooth

A combination of jaw pain + impacted tooth discomfort is a strong indicator that the two are connected.

Why Removing Impacted Teeth Can Help

Many patients experience relief from TMJ symptoms once problematic impacted teeth are removed, especially when those teeth:

• Push on neighboring teeth

• Cause recurring infections

• Create bite imbalances

• Lead to chronic gum inflammation

However, it’s important to remember that TMJ disorders are multifactorial. While extraction can ease symptoms, some patients may still require TMJ-focused treatment to fully resolve their discomfort.

When to See a Dentist or TMJ Specialist

Book an evaluation if you’re experiencing:

• Persistent jaw pain or stiffness

• Difficulty opening the mouth fully

• Jaw locking or grinding

• Ongoing pressure around wisdom teeth

• Earache-like pain with no ear infection

• Frequent headaches

A dental exam along with imaging like an OPG, CBCT, or panoramic X-ray can reveal whether an impacted tooth is contributing to your TMJ issues.

Impacted teeth may be hidden, but their effects on your bite and jaw health are not. If left untreated, they can trigger muscle tension, misalignment, and TMJ discomfort that affects daily life. Understanding the connection is the first step toward long-term relief. At Oyster Dental Care, we offer comprehensive assessments to identify whether impacted teeth or bite imbalances are causing your TMJ symptoms. Take control of your jaw health today. Book your consultation at Oyster Dental Care and get the relief you deserve.