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A smiling woman holds a dental jaw model in a clinic, with a dental X-ray displayed on a monitor behind her — An evaluation can help Birmingham patients get to the bottom of TMJ symptoms. (Ben Johnson / Bham Now)

Does your jaw hurt every time you bite into a burger? Or do you hit mid-afternoon with a headache that feels like it came out of nowhere and won’t quit? You might be dealing with pain in your temporomandibular joint, commonly known as TMJ.

For many across Birmingham, TMJ-related pain shows up in everyday life, spilling into workdays, dinners out, commutes and even sleep.

The upside? According to Dr. Brendan Squier, DMD, at UAB Medicine Oral Surgery, you don’t have to just “live with it.”

Here’s what’s behind TMJ pain, what symptoms to look for and how to treat it.

What Birmingham should know about TMJ

Dr. Squier, UAB Medicine Oral Surgery — Dr. Squier, DMD can help with any TMJ symptoms you are struggling with. (UAB Medicine Oral Surgery)

TMJ isn’t just a buzzword for jaw pain. It stands for the temporomandibular joint—aka the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull.

When this joint or its surrounding muscles aren’t working correctly, it’s called a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). And it’s more common than you might think.

“TMD involves both muscle-related and joint-related conditions affecting approximately half of the population at some point in their life.”
Dr. Squier, DMD, UAB Medicine Oral Surgery

Symptoms can include:

Jaw pain
Clicking or popping
Headaches
Neck tension
Pain while chewing
Trouble opening the mouth fully

If you’re struggling with symptoms like these, help is available. Schedule an appointment with the UAB Medicine Oral Surgery.

Why TMJ is often overlooked

TMJ disorders affect approximately half of the population at some point in their lives according to local experts. (UAB Medicine Oral Surgery)

TMJ doesn’t always feel like a jaw problem. For many, it shows up as something else entirely—especially during a busy Birmingham week filled with work, Highway 280 traffic and everything in between.

“These symptoms usually go hand in hand with headaches, neck tension and teeth grinding. They can be confused for an ear problem or vice versa as well.”
Dr. Squier, DMD, UAB Medicine Oral Surgery

That means that recurring headache or ear issue could actually be coming from your jaw joint. Fortunately, there’s help! 👇

TMJ treatment options in Birmingham

Tray of orange smiley face cookies on display at Savage's Bakery in Homewood — Soft cookies from Savage’s Bakery in Homewood are easy to eat when dealing with TMJ. (Bham Now)

Here’s some good news: TMJ symptoms can often improve with simple at-home care, especially in the early stages.

Try these simple steps from Dr. Squier before moving on to more advanced treatment options:

Eating soft foods (think less crunch, less chew)
Placing a heating pad on jaw muscles to ease tension
Gently massaging the jaw muscles
Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication

These small changes can take the edge off symptoms, especially during flare-ups tied to stress, sleep habits or long workdays.

When chewing feels harder than it should, Birmingham has plenty of soft-food options. Think broth-heavy pho at Pho Place in Greystone and soft baked goods from Savage’s Bakery in Homewood—both offer items that are easy on the jaw.

If symptoms persist, treatment may include physical therapy, prescription medication, bite splints or even Botox to relax jaw muscles. In complex cases, surgery may be recommended.

Get TMJ help in Birmingham

A specialist holds a translucent 3D-printed jaw model with amber-colored teeth and metal hardware used to evaluate TMJ symptoms — 3D jaw models help Birmingham specialists better understand what’s causing a patient’s TMJ symptoms. (Ben Johnson / Bham Now)

If you have jaw pain, headaches or other symptoms that are starting to get in the way of everyday life, you don’t have to push through it.

The team at the UAB Medicine Oral Surgery works with patients to diagnose TMJ disorders and build treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs.

“If you have symptoms such as progressive limited mouth opening, jaw locking or severe pain affecting day-to-day activities, we recommend you be seen by a TMJ specialist.”
Dr. Squier, DMD, UAB Medicine Oral Surgery

To schedule an evaluation, ask your dentist or healthcare provider for a referral or contact the office to get started.

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