What Is TMJ Dysfunction?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint—the hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull, just in front of your ears. It allows you to chew, talk, yawn, and move your jaw in many directions. But when this joint or the surrounding muscles become dysfunctional, it can cause a whole cascade of issues across the face, head, neck, and even shoulders.

​

TMJ dysfunction isn’t just a “jaw issue”—it’s often a downstream symptom of deeper imbalances in the nervous system, cervical spine, or stress regulation pathways.

​

What Causes TMJ Dysfunction?

This condition is rarely caused by just one thing. It’s often the result of chronic strain, postural habits, emotional tension, or previous injury.

 

Common contributors include:

• Clenching or grinding (bruxism)—often driven by chronic stress, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation

• Neck issues—tight cervical muscles can pull the jaw out of alignment

• Vestibular injuries—if the brain loses track of head position, muscles tighten to stabilise it

• Postural imbalances—especially from prolonged screen time or poor ergonomics

• Stress and emotional tension—physiological stress often translates directly into facial holding patterns

• Arthritis or degeneration—usually as a result of prolonged mechanical imbalance

• Malocclusion or bite issues—which may be the result (not just the cause) of muscular imbalance

• Trauma—to the jaw, head, or neck, including whiplash or concussion

​​

Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

 

TMJ dysfunction can show up in surprising ways, and it’s not always obvious at first glance. Some people even discover it only after treatment begins and things finally let go.

 

Common symptoms include:

• Jaw pain or tightness

• Clicking, popping, or grinding noises

• Limited jaw opening or locking

• Facial pain or tenderness

• Headaches (especially in the temples)

• Neck stiffness or tension

• Earache, pressure, or tinnitus

• Tooth sensitivity or uneven wear

• Dizziness or instability

• Pain when chewing, talking, or yawning

​​

Treatment Options—and Why They Often Fall Short

 

Most conventional treatments include:

• Night guards or dental splints

• Muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medications

• Physical therapy

• Stress management strategies

• In some cases, surgery

 

These can be helpful—but often, they only treat the symptom. What if jaw tension is the body’s way of compensating for poor head positioning, vestibular dysfunction, or nervous system overwhelm?

That’s where FSM comes in.

​

FSM as a Treatment Option for TMJ and Jaw Pain

 

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a gentle therapy that uses low-level currents and specific frequencies to address both symptoms and root causes—without drugs, needles, or force.

​

FSM helps by:

• Reducing inflammation in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles

• Softening chronic tension in the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles

• Relaxing the nervous system and vagus nerve

• Identifying whether upstream issues (cervical spine, vestibular system, emotional holding) are involved

• Helping the body remember what balance feels like

​​

What Makes FSM Different?

With FSM, we listen to your body’s response to the frequencies. We don’t just run “jaw pain” settings and hope for the best—we observe how your tissues respond in real-time. If your jaw tension is linked to a vestibular issue, only those frequencies will soften the muscles. If it’s coming from your cervical spine, that will show up in the response too.

​

Each session becomes a shared discovery process. We’re not just treating symptoms—we’re learning from them.

​

What do people say? 

"I thought I had a jaw problem. It turned out to be my neck—and something shifted the first time we ran the cervical frequencies. For the first time in months, I could chew without pain. My jaw actually felt relaxed, and I didn’t even realise how much tension I was holding until it let go." — C.L., QLD​​​​