A number of different problems can occur with people's jaw joints. Many of these problems can cause head and neck pain and also the causes of jaw joint pain can sometimes cause a toothache as well. Jaw joint problems can be caused by injuries and accidents arising in motor vehicles and sporting events, as well as from habits some people have, such as clenching or night time "grinding" of the teeth. Quite often in our stressful lifestyles, people develop an increased tendency to clench or "grind" their teeth. We see people of all ages with jaw joint problems, but commonly, young teenage girls and women in their late twenties are affected. In older age groups, jaw joint problems may be noticed by funny noises when eating and difficulty chewing. In the younger age groups, jaw joint problems may occur in a similar fashion to any other joint, with soft tissue and cartilage damage possibly arising from physical trauma to the joints. In addition, the muscles around the jaw joint may become sore and irritated and a kind of tendonitis develop within the muscle itself. People with funny sounds coming from jaw joints, or who have pain in front of the ear, or in the face or scalp muscles, should consider approaching their dentisit for a joint evaluation. The remedies for many jaw joint problems are often simple provided the issues are dealt with early. Jaw joint problems are one of the most common causes of recurring headaches and your dentist may be able to help you.