TMJ & Dizziness
What is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)?
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) refers to a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint (also called the temporomandibular joint or TMJ) and the muscles controlling jaw movement.
Symptoms of TMD can include:
Jaw pain
Limited or asymmetric jaw motion
Joint sounds, like clicking and popping
Headache
Ear pain
Tinnitus
Dizziness
Neck pain [1-3]
What is the connection between TMD and Dizziness?
The jaw joint and the vestibular system are closely connected through shared nerve pathways. Because of this, inflammation or problems in the jaw joint can affect the vestibular system and how it works [4]. The vestibular system plays a key role in maintaining balance, controlling posture, and stabilizing vision. When something goes wrong with this system, it can lead to dizziness and/or imbalance.
Several medical studies have shown that people with more severe jaw joint disorders (TMD) are more likely to experience dizziness [5–10]. In addition, muscle tension or poor posture, especially involving the neck and head, can also contribute to dizziness [11–12]. For patients struggling with both jaw dysfunction and balance concerns, vestibular therapy in Austin can be an important treatment option to restore stability and reduce symptoms.
What are the common risk factors for TMD?
Psychological factors like anxiety and stress
Oral habits such as clenching, bruxism, and lip/object biting
Poor sleep quality or sleep disorders
Jaw Trauma
Migraines/headaches [13-19]
How can Physical Therapy help with TMD?
Education: breathing, oral habits, sleep hygiene
Jaw exercises
Instruction on self-massage
Dietary advice
Treatment of muscular and postural dysfunction affecting the neck and head
Dizziness associated with TMD may overlap with other causes, so a thorough evaluation is warranted to exclude vestibular or neurological disorders. In many cases, combining traditional TMD treatments with Austin vestibular rehabilitation offers patients a more complete recovery—addressing both jaw pain and balance-related issues.
References:
1. Temporomandibular Disorders. Scrivani SJ, Keith DA, Kaban LB. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359(25):2693-705. doi:10.1056/NEJMra0802472.
2. Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders. Gauer RL, Semidey MJ.
American Family Physician. 2015;91(6):378-86.
3. Temporomandibular Disorders: Old Ideas and New Concepts. List T, Jensen RH.
Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache. 2017;37(7):692-704. doi:10.1177/0333102416686302.
4. Inflammation of Temporomandibular Joint Increases Neural Activity in Rat Vestibular Nucleus.Chung SW, Kim MJ, Ahn JC, et al. Neuroscience Letters. 2012;528(2):126-30. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2012.08.073.
5. Temporomandibular Disorders: Rapid Evidence Review. Matheson EM, Fermo JD, Blackwelder RS. American Family Physician. 2023;107(1):52-58.
6. Otological Findings and Other Symptoms Related to Temporomandibular Disorders in Young People. Maciel LFO, Landim FS, Vasconcelos BC. The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. 2018;56(8):739-743. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2018.08.005.
7. Temporomandibular Disorders, Otologic Symptoms and Depression Levels in Tinnitus Patients. Hilgenberg PB, Saldanha AD, Cunha CO, Rubo JH, Conti PC.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2012;39(4):239-44. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2842.2011.02266.x.
8. Prevalence of Otologic Complaints in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorder.
Tuz HH, Onder EM, Kisnisci RS. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics : Official Publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, Its Constituent Societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics. 2003;123(6):620-3. doi:10.1016/s0889-5406(03)00153-7.
9. Tinnitus, Dizziness, and Nonotologic Otalgia Improvement Through Temporomandibular Disorder Therapy. Wright EF, Syms CA, Bifano SL. Military Medicine. 2000;165(10):733-6.
10. Otologic Symptom Improvement Through TMD Therapy.
Wright EF. Quintessence International (Berlin, Germany : 1985). 2007;38(9):e564-71.
Viziano A, Micarelli A, Carlino P, Granito I, Alessandrini M. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology : Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology. 2020;54:102455. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2020.102455.
12. Anatomic Relationship Between Trigeminal Nerve and Temporomandibular Joint.
Paparo F, Fatone FM, Ramieri V, Cascone P. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2008 Jan-Feb;12(1):15-8.
13. Risk Factors for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies. Da-Cas CD, Valesan LF, Nascimento LPD, et al. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. 2024;138(4):502-515. doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2024.06.007.
14. Prevalence of Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Registered in the EUROTMJ Database: A Prospective Study in a Portuguese Center. Ângelo DF, Mota B, João RS, Sanz D, Cardoso HJ. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023;12(10):3553. doi:10.3390/jcm12103553.
15. Painful Temporomandibular Disorder: Decade of Discovery From OPPERA Studies.
Slade GD, Ohrbach R, Greenspan JD, et al. Journal of Dental Research. 2016;95(10):1084-92. doi:10.1177/0022034516653743.
16. Risk Factors for Diagnostic Subgroups of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). Huang GJ, LeResche L, Critchlow CW, Martin MD, Drangsholt MT.
Journal of Dental Research. 2002;81(4):284-8. doi:10.1177/154405910208100412.
Chen H, Pendleton C, Caplan DJ, Xie XJ. Journal of the American Dental Association (1939). 2021;152(7):505-513.e2. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2021.02.010.
18. The Impact of Parafunctional Habits on Temporomandibular Disorders in Medical Students. Zemowski M, Yushchenko Y, Wieczorek A. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(15):5301. doi:10.3390/jcm14155301.
19. A Cross-Sectional Study of Temporomandibular Disorders Among Postgraduate Students. Elsayed ADA, Taema MA, Elkhashab MA, Aziz EA, Radi IAW. The International Journal of Prosthodontics. 2024;37(5):495-504. doi:10.11607/ijp.8716.