Jaw discomfort rarely lives alone. It travels with neck stiffness, headaches, and screen stress. In clinic, I treat the neck, upper back, and jaw as one system: free motion, reduce guarding, teach relaxed resting position, and coordinate with your dentist when bite or splinting is involved.
Self-Checks
- Two-knuckle opening without pain?
- Deviates to one side when opening?
- Tender points in jaw, temples, or suboccipitals?
At-Home Toolkit
- Resting position: Tongue to palate, teeth slightly apart, nasal breathing.
- Neck resets: Chin tucks x 8–10; thoracic extension x 8–10.
- Gentle jaw ROM: Controlled open/close in mirror, 6–8 reps—no forcing end range.
Clinic Approach
- Mobilize stiff cervical/upper thoracic segments.
- Soft tissue for masseter, temporalis, and suboccipitals (as tolerated).
- Breath and posture coaching to reduce clenching triggers.
CTA: Night clenching or jaw clicks getting louder? Book with Dr. Edward Komberg—we’ll assess neck-jaw mechanics and coordinate with your dentist when needed.