How Your Bite Could Be Causing Jaw Pain

If you’ve been living with jaw pain, headaches, clicking or popping in the jaw, or even neck and shoulder tension—you’re not alone. These symptoms are often linked to a condition called Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), which affects millions of Australians.

What many people don’t realise is that the root of this jaw pain could be as close as your own bite—yes, the way your teeth come together when you close your mouth.

Let’s explore how your bite may affect your jaw joints and what you can do to relieve pain and restore balance.

🔧 Your Bite Works Like a Tripod

Think of your jaw as a three-legged stool. The two jaw joints (on either side of your head) and your bite form a kind of tripod. If one leg is off balance—say, due to misaligned teeth or jaw movement—the entire structure becomes unstable. Over time, this may lead to strain in your muscles, joints, and ligaments, causing the symptoms many of our patients struggle with.

This concept, often highlighted by TMD-focused dentists, is something we frequently see in practice here in Buderim.

✅ What Does a Healthy Bite Look Like?

A well-aligned bite allows your teeth to meet in a way that evenly distributes pressure across your head, neck, and jaw. This helps your jaw joints stay stable and pain-free, reducing the risk of TMD-related issues such as:

Muscle soreness
Clicking or popping in the jaw
Headaches or migraines
Neck and shoulder tension
Jaw stiffness or locking

🚨 Common Bite Patterns That Can Lead to TMD

At our clinic, we often work with patients under the care of dentists and orthodontists who may be experiencing the following bite-related concerns:

Deep Bite (Overbite)

When the upper front teeth cover too much of the lower teeth, the lower jawbone gets pushed backward. This can lead to painful disc displacement inside the joint—often felt as clicking, popping, or aching.

Overjet

Often mistaken for an overbite, this is when the top teeth jut out horizontally over the bottom teeth. This can also push the lower jaw joint too far back and, in severe cases, can even lead to the jaw locking closed.

3. Crossbite

When the lower teeth sit outside the upper teeth, the jaw moves sideways too much during chewing. Over time, this may create muscle fatigue and joint irritation since the jaw isn’t built for those kinds of repeated side movements.

🔁 Small Imbalances, Big Problems Over Time

Did you know your teeth meet around 1,000 times a day just from swallowing? That’s not even counting chewing or clenching! When the alignment is off, all that repetition adds up—and may sometimes lead to chronic jaw dysfunction.

This is where we step in.

👥 How We Can Help

At Dental Physiotherapy with Lorraine Carroll & Simon Coghlan, we work closely with dentists and orthodontists. We combine over 30 years of hands-on experience with a uniquely integrated approach to managing TMJ issues. Our tailored care includes:

Manual therapy to ease muscle tension
Dry needling and medical acupuncture for pain relief
Laser therapy to support tissue healing
Personalised education and self-management strategies
Therapeutic exercise programmes

We’re not just treating the jaw—we’re supporting the whole system to restore comfort and improve quality of life.

🪞Try This At-Home Check

Look in the mirror and ask yourself:

Do your top teeth cover too much of the bottom ones?
Are any teeth misaligned or sticking out?
Do your jaws feel tight, or do you hear clicking?

If you answered yes to any of these, it might be time to have your jaw and bite assessed.

🌿 Final Thoughts

TMJ disorders can feel confusing and overwhelming—but they don’t have to be. Often, the first step toward relief is simply understanding the possible connection between your bite and your jaw health.

Let’s Chat About Your Jaw Health

If this sounds familiar and you’re ready to explore solutions that truly work, we’d love to help. Whether it’s your first time seeking help or you’ve tried other options, you’ll receive genuine, personalised care every step of the way.

📍 Visit us: Suite 2, 24–26 Gloucester Road, Buderim, QLD 4556📞 Call us: 07 3532 8605🌐 Book online: Click here to book

By Lorraine