Stress and the Jaw Joint

Mental Stress and Its Impact on the Jaw Muscles

Mental stress has a massive impact on the human body! Very often, this manifests through its effects on the jaw muscles. Have you ever caught yourself unconsciously clenching your teeth during particularly stressful situations? Or perhaps you wake up in the middle of the night because you are clenching or grinding your teeth so hard... And then you wonder why your cheeks feel so tense and you experience pain in your jaw joint or even your teeth.

If you have experienced this yourself, it will be well worth reading on!

First, a Clarification of Terms: What is "Mental Stress"?

The term "stress" refers to an uncomfortable, or even threatening, state of imbalance between demands (social, professional, mental) and coping capacity. Stress occurs when the qualitative and quantitative demands placed on a person exceed their ability to cope with them. Generally, humans are resilient and handle stress well. It only becomes dangerous when you are constantly exposed to excessive pressure, or when there is a lack of relief factors. "Mental stress" refers to a stressful situation accompanied by heightened mental arousal or emotionally triggered stress (e.g., the loss of a loved one).

This article focuses exclusively on negative stress, which is also known as distress.

Why This Topic Matters

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is one of the greatest health hazards of the 21st century. If stress eventually becomes chronic, various symptoms can arise:

• Unpleasant feelings such as anger, anxiety, and overwhelm

• Physical effects such as increased muscle tension, high blood pressure, and a rapid heartbeat

• Altered behaviors such as forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating

Consultation rates with osteopaths for complaints of the musculoskeletal system stand at 80.9%, with the jaw muscles making up a portion of these cases. To date, there is no scientific explanation for exactly how and why stress affects these muscles. It is only possible to prove that mental stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, which has a certain influence on various body regions and thus likely on the jaw muscles as well. Theories also exist in connection with human evolution. In any case, it is frequently observed that many of those affected by stress-induced headaches and jaw muscle tension are highly likely to suffer from chronic mental stress.

Due to constant mental tension, those affected clench their teeth tightly together without even realizing it. This leads to continuous activity in the jaw muscles, which in turn leads to tension if it persists for longer periods.

Possible Symptoms and Their Consequences

It is crucial to seek help as soon as you feel this kind of tension. The consequences can range from mild to severe:

• Myofascial tension pain in the jaw muscles, which can extend to the neck and shoulder muscles, and potentially travel down to the upper body and along the spine

• Headaches around the temples that can become chronic

• Pain or issues with the jaw joint, potentially leading to joint wear and tear

• Migraines and a decline in concentration

• Receding gums

• Gum inflammation (gingivitis)

• Loss of tooth enamel

• Loosening and even loss of teeth

Therapeutic Approaches in Osteopathy and Physiotherapy

For osteopaths and physiotherapists, these muscles are a daily focus. Of course, they cannot magically make patients' stress disappear. It remains the patient's responsibility to identify and address the stress triggers.

However, they are highly skilled in treating the consequences, with the goal of:

• relieving the symptoms (see above)

• reducing pain

• counteracting progressive tissue destruction

They can provide relief for patients by targeting the affected jaw and head muscles directly and releasing myofascial structures through stretching or massage techniques. Dry Needling is also a highly effective method for treating and eliminating painful trigger points in the jaw joint area. The fascia connected to the jaw is released, and the tension on both the joint and the head is normalized.

Using manual joint techniques, the jaw joint itself can also be treated, and any movement restrictions can be reduced and optimized.

In addition, physiotherapy or osteopathic treatment always includes education and instruction regarding the mechanism of the symptoms and triggers. Often, people experience pain without being aware of the underlying cause. With their broad knowledge of the human body's processes and interactions, therapists can provide crucial education and help you become aware of the triggering issue. Developing changes in how you handle stressors are vital steps in successful therapy.

However, this is where every patient needs to take action and actively participate to counter bad and unhealthy stress and break old patterns.

Relaxation, breathing, or mindfulness exercises can be developed with the physiotherapist and contribute to improving your symptoms.

If you need us, we are here to support you!

Your BodyLab Team, your specialists for jaw and stress-related issues

Osteopathy and Physiotherapy | Rehabilitation and Training

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Title Image Credit

Henry Vandyke Carter creator QS:P170,Q955620 Henry Gray creator QS:P170,Q40319, Gray309, designated as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons