Why Your Jaw Is Tight — And Why It’s Not Just About Stress
It usually starts subtly:
A little pressure around the ears.
A clicking noise when you chew.
A dull ache that travels from your jaw into your neck or temples.
You stretch, massage, maybe even try a night guard — but the tension keeps coming back. And while stress is absolutely part of the picture, your jaw pain isn’t “just in your head.”
In fact, it’s often the result of how your whole system is moving — or not moving — together.
Jaw Tension: A Full-Body Issue in Disguise
Your jaw doesn’t operate on its own. It’s connected to the rest of your body through muscle, fascia, and joint mechanics — and when one piece of the puzzle is off, others start to compensate.
Here’s what that often looks like:
Forward head posture puts extra strain on the TMJ.
Neck stiffness restricts how the jaw can open and close.
Shoulder tension adds to the pressure and clenching.
Poor breathing mechanics or core instability can even play a role.
What’s wild is how many people don’t realize they’re holding tension in these areas — until we start to treat them.
The Cervical Spine Connection: Why Neck Position Matters
The muscles that move your jaw also attach to your neck and skull. So when your neck is stuck in a forward posture (thanks, screens and long days at your desk), your jaw loses its full range of motion.
Here’s a simple test:
Tuck your chin down and try to open your mouth.
Now gently lift your chest and look forward — feels different, right?
This is why we don’t just treat the jaw directly. We also address the cervical spine, especially extension — because your jaw moves better when your neck is stacked and mobile.
So, What Helps?
Let’s talk treatment.
In the clinic, I approach jaw tension from both a local and systemic lens. This includes:
Dry Needling + Electroacupuncture to the key muscles of the jaw, neck, and upper shoulder — to release tension and improve blood flow.
Fascial work to unwind the deep layers of holding patterns around the head and neck.
Distal acupuncture to regulate your nervous system, help reduce stress, and support long-term change.
We may also talk about breath mechanics, cervical mobility, or small shifts to your posture and sleep setup.
And At Home?
Jaw tension isn’t just a “tight muscle” issue. It’s often a result of your system running in overdrive. Here are a few ways you can start calming things down between visits:
Practice gentle neck extension exercises (I'll show you which ones).
Focus on diaphragmatic breathing to downregulate tension.
Check in with your posture throughout the day — especially at your desk or when scrolling.
Reduce clenching habits by bringing more awareness to your jaw during stress, sleep, and workouts.
You Don’t Have to Keep Clenching Your Way Through It
Jaw tension can be persistent — but it’s not permanent.
And it doesn’t have to be something you just “deal with.”
By understanding the deeper connections in your body and approaching treatment in a way that supports your nervous system, movement patterns, and postural habits, we can make real, lasting change.
If your jaw has been trying to tell you something… I’m here to listen.
