TMJ & Jaw Pain Relief
Ease tension. Reduce grinding. Relieve pain.
Jaw pain, tension, clicking, or grinding can wear you down—draining your energy and disrupting your sleep. At LIC Acupuncture & Wellness in Long Island City, we provide evidence-informed, hands-on care to ease jaw tension, calm inflammation, and relieve pain.
Bring ease and comfort back.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the temporal bone at the temples with the mandible, or jaw bone. Proper hinging at this joint allows everyday functions like speaking and chewing. Because it’s one of the most active joints in the body, even small imbalances can quickly lead to pain or dysfunction.
What is TMD?
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) refers to pain or problems at the TMJ. This can show up as jaw soreness, stiffness, clicking or popping, or difficulty opening and closing the mouth comfortably.
Conditions We Treat
TMJ/TMD Pain: Pain, stiffness, or soreness around the jaws that can make chewing, speaking, or opening the mouth uncomfortable.
Clicking or Popping: Occurs when opening or closing the jaws, with or without soreness.
Clenching & Grinding (Bruxism): Tension that causes habitual clenching or grinding — often at night and noticed in the morning.
Jaw Stiffness: Difficulty opening or moving the jaws that often comes with ongoing jaw tension or pain.
Headaches: Tension in the jaws can cause headaches in the temples, forehead, behind the eyes, or back of the head.
Neck & Shoulder Tension: Tension that can contribute to jaw pain — or result from it — adding to soreness and fatigue.
If any of these sound familiar, we can help. Schedule a consultation ›
Common Factors in TMJ & Jaw Pain
TMJ and jaw pain rarely come from a single source. Most people develop symptoms from a mix of muscle tension, joint mechanics, and lifestyle factors that reinforce each other.
Clenching & Grinding (Bruxism)
Habitual clenching or grinding, often during sleep, places continuous strain on the jaw and surrounding muscles. With time, this can cause pain, tension, and tooth wear.
Muscle Tension
The muscles of the jaw, neck, and shoulders work closely together. When the jaw tightens, it can create tension in the neck and shoulders. Likewise, tension in the neck and shoulders can contribute to tightness in the jaw and face. For lasting relief, both areas often need to be treated together.
Joint Mechanics
Clicking, popping, or locking can happen when the small disc inside the joint doesn’t move smoothly or when the joint is under uneven stress. This can make opening, closing, or chewing uncomfortable.
Posture
Forward head posture — often from long hours of sitting or looking at a phone — changes how the neck and jaw align. This shifts how the muscles and joints work together, placing extra load on the TMJ. Over time, that added stress can lead to increased friction, tension, and wear and tear.
Stress & Lifestyle
Stress can amplify many TMJ problems — increasing clenching and grinding, adding to muscle tension, and making poor sleep more disruptive. These combined effects keep the jaw muscles tense and the joint irritated, leading to stiffness and pain.
Our Method
Because the causes of TMJ and jaw pain often overlap, effective treatment has to look at how the jaw, muscles, posture, and lifestyle factors all interact. Addressing these layers together is what leads to real, lasting relief.
1. Direct Treatment
We ease pain directly at the site by treating the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids with acupuncture and manual therapy. This helps release tension and reduce inflammation in the jaw.
2. Address Contributing Factors
Jaw problems rarely exist in isolation. Because of this, we also address contributing factors such as tension in the neck and shoulders, postural stress, and joint mechanics — all of which can make jaw pain persist.
3. Support Lasting Recovery
Stress, poor sleep, and the ongoing effects of pain keep the body on edge. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, improve sleep, and reduce stress so the body can rest and recover.
All three parts of care are integral, and if one is missing, jaw problems can continue. Together, these steps create the foundation for real change — and our approach provides the complete care needed for lasting relief.
When jaw pain persists, you need a plan that works.
The LIC Acupuncture & Wellness Difference
Whole Person APPROACH
Jaw pain isn’t always just about the jaw. Tension in the surrounding muscles — along with stress, poor sleep, and posture — can all keep symptoms going. Our treatments address these factors together, which is why many patients find more complete relief, even when other therapies haven’t been as effective.
Personalized TREATMENTS
Every patient’s situation is different. We tailor each session to your specific symptoms, health history, and goals. That means one-on-one attention and treatment plans designed around what you need, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Expert Care
Our licensed practitioners are highly trained and clinically focused on results. We’ve treated many patients with TMJ and jaw pain, using evidence-informed care that is safe, effective, and personalized. Patients trust us because we combine technical expertise with the one-on-one attention that makes a real difference in recovery.
What to Expect
Consultation
One-on-one discussion of your symptoms, health history, and goals. We’ll confirm if acupuncture — or any of our services — is the right fit.
Your First Treatment
A targeted acupuncture session tailored to your condition. Supportive methods such as cupping, e-stim, or soft-tissue techniques may be included if appropriate to ease tension and support recovery.
Progress
Many patients notice relief within the first few sessions. Chronic or complex conditions usually improve gradually over a series of treatments.
Your first step is simple — start with a consultation ›
Testimonials
Ready to find relief?
Individual results may vary. No guarantee of specific results is warranted or implied. See full disclaimer.