The Hidden Link Between Posture & Jaw Pain

Your jaw pain could be the result of poor posture, which puts pressure on your neck and forces your jaw into an unnatural alignment. Since your jaw needs to be able to move freely to eat and speak, this can lead to pain due to muscle strain.

In this short guide, we’re exploring the unexpected link between your posture and jaw pain. We’ll also explore some helpful tips to help you improve your posture so you can find relief from the discomfort.

How does poor posture lead to jaw pain?

Jaw pain is more often associated with pain in your teeth. Tooth decay and infections in the bone can lead to significant discomfort in your jaw. A poorly aligned bite can also cause jaw pain. It could also be caused by trauma to the face or jaw.

One hidden cause of jaw pain that would be worth exploring would be your posture. Your posture refers to how you hold yourself, and good posture would be when your head, neck, shoulders, chest, pelvis and knees are in good alignment. When any part of this chain is out of alignment, it can cause a domino effect, leading to pain elsewhere in the body.

One of the most common types of bad posture is when your head stoops forward, often known as tech neck. The most common cause of this type of alignment issue is leaning forward to look at phones, or slouching and looking down at a computer screen.

When you have poor posture, this can put additional pressure on your neck and this can spread to your jaw. Your jaw can shift out of alignment, leading to a poorly aligned bite. When you have a poorly aligned bite, you might suffer from a condition known as TMJ dysfunction.

This could lead you to believe that you have a dental problem and it can even feel a lot like toothache. If you find yourself experiencing jaw pain, this would be worth exploring in more detail with your dentist.

Steps to correct jaw pain from poor posture

After diagnosis, and ruling out any other conditions, you can start to look for ways to improve your posture. The first step is to understand where your posture is falling short. If you spend all day on a computer, this would be a good place to start. 

Try adjusting your setup so you are looking straight ahead rather than down at your computer screen. You should also make sure that you sit up straight and don’t slouch at your desk.

Next, look at how you hold yourself when you’re at rest. Do you slouch in chairs? Are you often looking down at a phone? These habits can lead to poor posture in the long term. Try to make sure you are sitting up straight and keep your shoulders back.

If you have been struggling with your posture for a long time, you might need to strengthen the muscles needed to support you. Try a gentle exercise class like pilates or yoga, as this will include core strengthening movements and gentle stretching that should help to ease sore muscles.

If you don’t experience an improvement in your jaw pain after addressing your poor posture, you may wish to explore orthodontic treatment, or specialist appliances to help improve your bite alignment. There are lots of options available to help address a sore jaw and TMJ dysfunction.