Jaw pain is often caused by a dysfunction of the muscles and joints such as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)  which control the movements of the mouth. The TMJ is the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull and there is one on each side of the face. These joints allow movements involving the mouth such as eating, speaking and yawning. However, any dysfunction of the surrounding muscles and/or the TMJ itself can make these movements difficult and painful. Although the common cause for pain in the jaw is often from dysfunctional muscles that control the movement rather than the joint itself. If the joint is affected then this is known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can cause pain, abnormal jaw movements and joint clicking when chewing.