Do you ever notice yourself clenching your jaw when you’re stressed, focused, or frustrated? You’re not alone.
Jaw clenching is one of those sneaky habits that many people don’t even realise they’re doing — until the headaches kick in.
I’m Kevin, a physiotherapist with a passion for helping people understand the root causes of their pain — especially when it’s showing up in the neck, shoulders, or head.
I’ve seen many clients who came in for “tension headaches” only to discover a big missing piece of the puzzle could be contributing from the jaw.
What’s Really Happening?
Jaw clenching, also known as bruxism, often happens during periods of stress or deep concentration — and in some people, even while they sleep.
This constant tension overloads the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and surrounding muscles, which can refer pain directly into the head, temples, face, or neck.
Here’s how jaw clenching may be linked to your headaches:
- Overactive jaw muscles (like the masseter and temporalis) create constant compression and strain
- This can refer pain to the temples, forehead, or behind the eyes
- The TMJ is closely connected to neck and upper cervical structures, which can further contribute to tension-type or cervicogenic headaches
- Night-time clenching can disrupt sleep, making you more prone to fatigue, stress, and — you guessed it — more headaches
Common Signs Your Jaw Is Involved
- Headaches that feel like pressure around the temples or behind the eyes
- Clicking or tightness in the jaw when opening your mouth
- Waking up with a sore jaw, neck, or head
- Tooth wear or sensitivity
- Noticing your jaw is tense during emails, driving, or workouts
So, What’s the Solution?
Clenching isn’t just a bad habit — it’s often the body’s response to stress, posture, or muscle imbalances.
That means we need to take a whole-body approach.
Here’s what often helps:
- Address neck and jaw mobility: Often, a stiff upper neck can make the jaw work overtime
- Strengthen postural muscles: Reducing forward head posture can ease load on the jaw
- Manual therapy and dry needling for the jaw and upper neck muscles
- Breathing retraining: Shallow, chest-based breathing contributes to tension
- Stress management tools: Guided relaxation, jaw release exercises, and awareness training
Action: What You Can Do Today
Try these quick steps:
- Jaw awareness drill: Rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth and let your jaw hang loosely. Practice this throughout the day.
- Check your posture: Set reminders to correct slouched head-forward positions that put strain on your jaw and neck.
- Self-massage: Gently massage the temples and jaw muscles in small circular motions for 1–2 minutes.
Still waking up with headaches or jaw tension?
Book in for a jaw and neck assessment. I’ll help you pinpoint the cause, release the tension, and give you tools to keep it from coming back.
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References
Lupoli, T.A. and Lockey, R.F. (2007) ‘Temporomandibular dysfunction: An often overlooked cause of chronic headaches’, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 99(4), pp. 314–318. doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60546-7.
Molina, O.F. et al. (2001) ‘Headache and bruxing behavior types in craniomandibular disorders (Cmds) patients’, Revista Neurociências, 19(3), pp. 449–457. doi:10.34024/rnc.2011.v19.8345.
Ostrc, T. et al. (2022) ‘Headache because of problems with teeth, mouth, jaws, or dentures in chronic temporomandibular disorder patients: A case–control study’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), p. 3052. doi:10.3390/ijerph19053052.
