Why Do I Clench My Jaw At Night
The Postural Pattern Behind TMJ, Bruxism, And Grinding
If you wake with a sore jaw, catch yourself clenching during the day, or your dentist has told you that you are grinding through your teeth, you are probably managing the symptom with a night guard while the cause goes completely unaddressed.
The Postural Chain Behind Jaw Clenching
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) does not operate in isolation. The mandible is connected to the cervical spine through the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles. When the cervical spine is rotated and side-bent (as it is in the Left AIC and Right BC patterns described by PRI), the mandible shifts to compensate. One side of the jaw closes harder. The masseters on one side become hypertonic.
How Neck Position Drives Jaw Asymmetry
The compensation chain flows from the pelvis through the trunk through the cervical spine to the jaw. The Left AIC pattern rotates the trunk, the Right BC pattern shifts the shoulders, and the neck counter-rotates to keep the eyes level. The jaw sits on top of all this compensation and responds accordingly.
The Tongue, Airway, And Bruxism Connection
When the cervical spine is out of position and the airway is compromised, the tongue drops forward to open the airway. This changes the jaw's resting position. The brain compensates by clenching to maintain tooth contact. Night grinding (bruxism) is often an airway maintenance strategy: the brain activates jaw muscles to protrude the mandible forward and open the airway during sleep.
Why Night Guards Do Not Fix The Cause
Night guards protect teeth but do not change cervical position, tongue position, or breathing pattern. They are damage mitigation. The jaw continues to clench because the structural and neurological drivers remain.
How Postural Correction Reduces Jaw Tension
Reposition the pelvis and the thorax derotates. The cervical spine moves toward neutral. The jaw can sit balanced. Restore nasal breathing and the tongue returns to the roof of the mouth. Sympathetic drive decreases. MOVECHECK assesses the patterns that drive jaw dysfunction across every stage. Many people report jaw clenching decreasing significantly within the first few weeks of corrective work.
See This In Your Own Body
Every concept in this article is tested in the MOVECHECK assessment. Find out which patterns apply to you.
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