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Red Light Therapy Reviewed For Jaw Pain Across 14 Trials

A systematic review of over 1,000 patients finds photobiomodulation may ease jaw pain short-term, but evidence quality is mostly low.

By Dr. Axe Editorial Team · October 20, 2026 · 1 source · Watch

A systematic review published October 15, 2026 in Current Oral Health Reports finds that photobiomodulation, commonly known as red light therapy, may ease pain and improve jaw function in adults with temporomandibular disorders, though the certainty behind that finding is mostly low to very low.

14trials, 1,001 people

630–905nm wavelengths

1 to 14sessions

0serious adverse events

A systematic review published October 15, 2026 in Current Oral Health Reports pooled 14 randomized controlled trials covering 1,001 people with temporomandibular disorders, the medical term for jaw joint and chewing muscle pain, studied from January 2015 to September 2025. Photobiomodulation, delivered by laser or LED devices, used wavelengths from about 630 to 905 nanometers, with schedules from one session up to 14 applications. Several trials found greater pain reductions with active light treatment than with sham or comparator treatments, though effects were inconsistent across jaw disorder subtypes and protocols. Jaw mobility and patient-reported function generally improved but varied between studies. Only 5 of the 14 trials, covering 492 people, reported any adverse-event information, and no serious adverse events turned up in those studies. Certainty of evidence ranged from moderate down to very low across comparisons, and was generally low or very low overall.

Light therapy is thought to affect how cells in irritated tissue generate energy and manage inflammation, a proposed mechanism for photobiomodulation generally rather than a finding this review tested directly. For jaw pain with few good non-drug options, a treatment with no serious safety signal and some supportive trial data is worth knowing about.

Photobiomodulation session range

Current Oral Health Reports, 2026, Pereira et al.

Protocols varied so much in wavelength and session count that no standard approach exists, and placebo groups often improved substantially too, which muddies how much benefit comes from the light itself. Adverse-event tracking was incomplete and nonstandardized in most trials.

Dr. Axe’s Take

Jaw pain from temporomandibular disorders is miserable, and conventional options are often limited to night guards, muscle relaxants or invasive procedures. This review tells me red light therapy is a reasonable, low-risk option to discuss with a dentist or physical therapist who offers it, not a guaranteed fix. I would pair it with jaw-specific stretching, magnesium glycinate for muscle tension, and stress-reduction work, since clenching from stress is a major driver of this condition. If you are on a muscle relaxant or other prescription for jaw pain, keep taking it as directed and talk to your dentist before adding light therapy.

— Dr. Axe

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Study summary

Who: 1,001 adults with temporomandibular disorders across 14 randomized trials, 2015–2025
Design: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials following PRISMA 2020, registered in PROSPERO
Dose: Wavelengths approximately 630–905 nm, 1 to 14 treatment sessions
Primary result: Several trials showed greater pain reduction with active light therapy than sham or comparator treatment; effects inconsistent across subtypes and protocols
Secondary: Functional outcomes (jaw mobility, patient-reported function) generally improved but varied; quality-of-life evidence limited; 5 of 14 trials (492 people) reported adverse events, none serious
Funding / conflicts: Funding and conflicts not reported in the abstract.
Date: Oct 15, 2026