Jaw Pain and TMJ, Lanark: Aching, Tight or Clicking Jaw?

Q: Is a clicking jaw something to worry about?

A painless click is very common and usually harmless. If there's pain as well, or your jaw sticks, locks or won't open all the way, get it checked. Treatment is normally straightforward: a splint, a few changes to habits such as giving up chewing gum, and a softer diet for a while often prevent it getting worse.

Q: Does stress cause jaw pain?

Yes, very commonly. Stress makes people clench more, both during the day without realising and at night, and the jaw muscles bear the load. Noticing when you clench during the day (your jaw should rest with lips together and teeth apart) and wearing a night guard at night make the biggest difference together. In the meantime, warm compresses and gentle stretches can help sore muscles.

Q: Will a night guard ease jaw pain?

Often, yes, if the pain is caused by grinding and clenching while you sleep: with the muscles finally resting, most people feel better within a few weeks. When the joint rather than the muscles is to blame, a rigid splint adjusted to your bite over several appointments (£620) works better than a standard guard. If there's no improvement, we'll look for other causes. Night guards cost £210.

Q: Can a dentist diagnose TMJ problems?

Yes. To diagnose temporomandibular disorder, a dentist examines your jaw joints, chewing muscles and bite, and considers your history and an X-ray where needed. Most people can be treated here: a splint, some changes to habits and simple exercises for the jaw. Where there are warning signs, such as a jaw that keeps locking or changes in the joint visible on an X-ray, we'll arrange a referral to the oral and maxillofacial team at a hospital.

When patients in Lanark come to us with jaw pain, the cause is usually tired, overloaded chewing muscles from clenching or grinding. Simple home measures settle most cases, sometimes helped by a night guard (£210) or a splint. Your examination covers the joint, the muscles and your bite, and rules out other causes such as a problem tooth or an ear issue.Usually tired jaw muscles from clenching or grinding; most cases settle with simple steps and, if needed, a fitted guard.

Phone 01555 662441 Book an urgent appointment Message us

Urgent appointments are £85, for registered and unregistered patients alike. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111. ¹

Easing It at Home

Steps that tend to help over the first few days, until we can see you.

Rest Your Jaw

For a few days, stick to soft food cut into small bites. Avoid gum, toffee and crusty bread, and try to keep your yawns small.

Heat and Gentle Exercise

Press a warm flannel to the painful side for about ten minutes, then gently open and close your mouth a few times. Do this two or three times daily.

Notice the Clenching

When your jaw is relaxed, the teeth should be apart: lips together, teeth slightly separated, tongue resting against the palate. Check in on this through the day, whether you're working or driving.

Pain Relief for a Few Days

Painkillers or anti-inflammatories from the chemist can ease things for a short time. Stick to the dose on the pack, and ask a pharmacist first if you're on other medication.

What We Can Do

In most people the problem lies in the muscles and responds to simple treatment. Our job is to work out what's sustaining it.

A Careful Assessment

Your dentist feels the joint and chewing muscles, measures your mouth opening, checks your bite and looks for signs of wear. An X-ray is taken if a tooth or the joint needs closer inspection.

Bite Adjustments

A recent filling or crown that's a touch high, or missing back teeth, can put extra strain on the joint. Adjusting the restoration or filling the gap often brings relief.

A Night Guard

If you grind or clench overnight, a made-to-measure night guard (£210) distributes the pressure and gives the muscles a rest.

A Rigid Splint

Recurring pain, significant wear or a clicking joint may call for a hard acrylic splint, fine-tuned over a few appointments to let the muscles unwind (from £620).

Triggers and Habits

Stress, long spells at a computer, plenty of caffeine, nail biting and chewing gum can all feed clenching. We'll go through which ones are relevant to you.

Referral If Needed

Should your jaw keep locking, or the pain fail to improve with treatment, we'll refer you to a hospital oral and maxillofacial team, either directly or via your GP.

Go to A&E or Call 999 If

Your mouth is stuck open and won't close

After an injury to the face, your teeth no longer meet as they used to

Jaw pain arrives together with chest pain, breathlessness or pain spreading down an arm, which may signal a heart attack

See Us Soon If

Your jaw aches or clicks most days, or briefly sticks as you open

Mornings bring jaw stiffness, tight cheek muscles or a headache at the temples

Front teeth are wearing shorter or chipping, or fillings break repeatedly

There's pain in or just in front of the ear without any ear infection

It started shortly after you had a new filling or crown

The Jaw Joint

You have a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) just ahead of each ear, where your lower jaw hinges against the skull. A small cartilage disc acts as a cushion, and powerful muscles in the cheeks and temples move the jaw. When any part of this system causes trouble, it's called temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Painless clicking is very common and rarely a concern; often the disc is just moving slightly out of time with the joint. It's pain, stiffness or catching that deserve a proper look. For most people the muscles are to blame rather than the joint.

How Treatment Usually Goes

Most people improve within a few weeks using simple steps, and a guard or splint tends to ease morning stiffness quite soon. If clenching is fuelled by stress or poor sleep, symptoms may return during demanding periods; we'll be honest with you about that.

Filing down healthy teeth to alter the bite isn't something we'd suggest as an early answer to jaw pain. We always start with treatment that can be undone.

What It Costs

Urgent appointments have one set fee, and anything beyond that is quoted in writing first. Last reviewed October 2026. ¹

Urgent same-day visit	£85
Examination with a dentist	£70
Custom night guard	£210
Rigid acrylic splint	from £620
Larger X-ray	£75

See all our fees

Jaw Pain FAQs

Triggers, clicking, guards and stress.

What causes jaw pain?–

In most people, jaw pain is muscular: the chewing muscles become overworked from clenching or grinding, frequently at night and frequently when life is stressful. Less commonly, the problem lies within the joint itself, for example the disc inside it slipping out of position (which produces clicking) or wear of the joint. A change in your bite, perhaps after a filling that sits too high or losing teeth, can trigger either. Pain from a tooth or the sinuses can show up in the jaw too, so have it examined; read more about jaw pain and TMJ.

Is a clicking jaw something to worry about?+

Does stress cause jaw pain?+

Will a night guard ease jaw pain?+

Can a dentist diagnose TMJ problems?+

How is a night guard different from an occlusal splint?+

Guides

Jaw Pain and Grinding

All general dentistry guides

General dentistry · 6 minute read

Filling, onlay or crown: which repair is right?

Have Your Jaw Assessed

We'll pin down the cause of the pain and what will relieve it before making or altering anything.

Ring 01555 662441 Same-day booking

Google★★★★★4.7from 37 reviews"All staff are attentive and professional in the way they handle their patients." Edward G., Google reviewRead reviews