Facial Pain: A Specialist Physiotherapy Approach

Facial pain is a complex, often chronic condition that leaves many patients frustrated after years of searching—and spending—without answers.

Do you experience face, jaw, tooth, or head pain? If so, you’re not alone.
 

Common Symptoms

Facial pain varies but typically involves:

• Aching or sharp pain in the jaw, cheeks, ears, teeth, neck, or head (one or both sides).
• Morning discomfort (especially for nighttime teeth-grinders/clenchers) or worsening pain during daily activities.
• Avoidance behaviours: Limiting hard foods, chewing gum, or even smiling to minimise pain.

Did you know? Women are four times more likely to suffer facial pain than men. Many patients have a history of neck injury—though some have no neck pain at all when symptoms begin.
 

What Causes Facial Pain?

Multiple factors contribute to muscle tension and pain, including:

• Past head/neck trauma
• Poor posture (especially desk work)
• Phone use without a headset
• Teeth grinding/clenching (day or night)
• Misaligned teeth or poor sleep habits
• Stress, anxiety, or shallow breathing

How We Treat It

Your personalised plan may include:

✅ Neck and upper spine manual therapy
✅ Dry needling/trigger point release for facial muscles
✅ TMJ (jaw joint) treatment
✅ Education and rehab exercises

Frequently Asked Questions

1. My tooth hurts with cold air/hard foods—could it really not be dental?
Absolutely. These triggers aggravate facial muscle pain just as they would a tooth problem. If your dentist rules out issues, myofascial pain is likely the culprit.

2. Do night splints help?
Yes—they protect teeth from grinding and may ease symptoms. However, they don’t address the root cause, which we’ll target in therapy.

3. How many sessions will I need?
Most patients see significant improvement in 2–3 visits for acute pain. Chronic cases may need monthly maintenance sessions.

4. What’s dry needling? Is it like acupuncture?
Dry needling uses a single needle to release muscle "knots" via quick, precise movements. It’s not left in place like acupuncture. Discomfort is minimal (a brief ache), and heat/stretching helps afterward.

5. I hate needles—are there alternatives?
Yes! We use manual trigger point release, TMJ therapy, stretches, and posture training. Dry needling is optional.

6. My jaw clicks/locks—can you still help?
Yes. If locking persists, we’ll refer you to a maxillofacial surgeon, though surgery is rarely needed.
 

Preventing Recurrence

Long-term relief requires addressing underlying causes through:

• Stretches and posture correction
• Breathing retraining
• Stress management techniques
• Jaw symmetry exercises

Why Choose a Physiotherapist?

Few consider physiotherapy for facial pain—yet specialist-trained physios (like ours at Mountside  Physio + Wellness) achieve rapid results, often in just 3 sessions. We’re also working to educate dentists, who are often the first point of contact for facial pain.
 

Ready for relief?

 Book with our reception—mention your facial pain to see the right therapist.