Understanding the Connection Between Jaw Pain and Posture
- Khristina Maureen
- Sep 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 21
Ever had a patient (or maybe you) struggle to sit through a cleaning because their jaw aches from just holding it open?
As a hygienist, I see this all the time. Jaw pain, clenching, grinding, headaches. The usual advice follows quickly: night guard, stretches, maybe Botox.
But what if jaw pain and posture are more connected than we think?
A Conversation That Changed My Perspective on Jaw Pain
One day, I had an osteopath in my chair, the kind of doctor people see when pain just won’t quit.
Being the forever student I am, I asked, "When someone has jaw pain, don’t you often see hip issues too?”
He smiled and said, "Actually… most of it starts with the feet.”
Mic drop.
From the Dental Chair to the Shoe Store
Fast forward to my son’s cross-country season. He was dealing with shin splints, so we went to a specialty running store for an insole fitting. While he was getting scanned, I figured, why not me too?
Turns out my left foot was much flatter and more flexible than I realized. Suddenly, the knee and hip discomfort I’d been noticing made a lot more sense.
Then came the real shift: new shoes and custom insoles.
The moment I stood up, my posture felt different. Walking felt smoother. Easier. More supported.
It was one of those moments where your body quietly says, Oh… that’s been the problem.
Validation at the Gym: Feet First
Not long after, I went to a mobility training class at my gym. The instructor, who's been teaching for over 30 years, said:
“When your feet aren’t grounded, your body has to compensate all the way up — through the legs, hips, spine… and yes, even your jaw.”
Cue the lightbulb.
It confirmed what the osteopath had said: jaw pain isn’t always about the jaw.
Jaw Pain and Posture: The Kinetic Chain at Work
Your body is one long kinetic chain:
Feet → knees → hips → spine → jaw
When one link is off, the rest of the chain compensates.
If your feet collapse inward, your hips shift. Your spine adjusts . And your jaw adapts to maintain balance.
Research supports this connection:
Translation?
Your jaw may be working overtime to compensate for what’s happening below it.
Zooming Out: Whole-Body Patterns Matter
In dentistry, it’s easy to zoom in on the jaw, stretch it, guard it, and treat it locally.
But the body doesn’t work in isolation.
Posture, movement patterns, stress, sleep, and even footwear all influence how tension is carried. When alignment is off, the jaw often becomes the messenger, not the original problem.
If Jaw Pain Keeps Showing Up, Look Past the Jaw
Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with my jaw?”
Try asking, “What is my body compensating for?”
A few things worth noticing:
Does one foot collapse more than the other?
Do your knees roll inward, or do your hips feel uneven?
Is there recurring tension in the hip, back, or neck?
How are stress levels and sleep quality lately?
Sometimes the jaw is simply the last link in a chain that’s been compensating for a while.
Real Talk & Final Bite
Jaw pain isn’t just a dental issue; it’s often a whole-body conversation.
The next time your jaw feels tight or fatigued, let that be a cue to pause, breathe, and get curious about what the rest of your body is doing.
When you start listening to the entire chain from your feet to your jaw, things often begin to make a lot more sense.
—Khristina Maureen,
Your Functional Nutrition Ally
Want to DIG Deeper?
Jaw tension and recurring pain often reflect patterns beyond the mouth: posture, stress, movement, and how the body adapts over time.
This is the lens I use to help people make sense of symptoms that don’t respond well to quick fixes.
No pressure. Just context and clarity.
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