02/02/2026
Why Does My Jaw Ache (Even When Iโm Not Clenching)? โบ๏ธ
I was just speaking with Alexis, about something that comes up a lotโฆ
That quiet jaw ache that shows upโฆ Not when youโre clenching, but just from living your day.
You didnโt grind your teeth. You didnโt even tense your jaw on purpose.
And yet by 3pmโฆ your face aches, your neck feels heavy, and youโre wondering what you missed.
Letโs talk about it, because thereโs a reason, and itโs probably not what you think.
This matters because many people live with daily facial or neck tension, but assume itโs just โpart of lifeโ, or worse, that theyโre doing something wrong.
The result?
We chase clenching or posture as the cause
We often try to fix the wrong thing
We stretch more, or push harder
And we miss the deeper cause.
If youโre a deep thinker, a caretaker, a planner (hi, Earth element!)โฆ this might hit close to home.
Actually, the real culprit is deeper, quieter, and entirely solvable.
It often comes from our nervous system.
So hereโs what I want you to know today:
1. Thereโs a powerful nerve in your face youโve probably never heard of. Itโs called the trigeminal nerve, and itโs the main nerve responsible for how your jaw, face, and head feel, move. It helps you chew, talk, and sense the world.
* It also happens to be deeply wired into your stress response.
2. Small tension, all day creates big fatigue.
Tiny, low-level holding patterns add up. No drama. No grinding.
If youโre thinking, solving problems, or that โjust living lifeโ feeling, the trigeminal nerve is still โonโ, behind the scenes. Kind of like keeping the car engine running.
Just enough to leave you feeling tired, sore, or stiff by the end of the day.
3. It Spreads
Because of the trigeminal nerveโs connections to the brainstem and neck, what starts in the jaw travels into your shoulders, neck, and head. Creating a loop of discomfort, of heaviness, fatigue, or even headaches.
Listen, I hope this was insightful for you ๐
To help you even more, Iโve created a "Neck, Shoulder, and Jaw eGuide" to Release to help you gently ease your pain and tension here, now.
Like a copy?
Link in comments
Namaste
Sarah x
