THE CLENCHING CHRONICLES
Why Your Jaw Gets Tight When You’re Stressed (Fight-or-Flight Explained)
Stress & Anxiety
About this episode
Why does your jaw feel tight at the end of the day if you never felt yourself clench? The answer often starts in your nervous system, not your teeth.
In Episode 6 of Jaw Awareness, Randy Clare explains how the fight-or-flight response can quietly tighten your jaw muscles. He also covers why that tension is so easy to miss, and a 30-second habit to help you notice it and release it.
What you'll learn:
• What fight-or-flight actually does in your body
• How stress reaches the masseter and temporalis muscles through the trigeminal nerve
• What research shows about stress and jaw clenching (bruxism), including where the evidence is limited
• Why the stress signal to your jaw is often tiny, and why that makes it hard to notice
• How to find your jaw's resting position: lips together, teeth apart
• The "stress check-in" habit and a 7-day log to bring to your dentist
Chapters
Why stress can tighten your jaw
About Randy and this episode
What fight-or-flight actually does
How the stress signal reaches your jaw
Why a tight jaw sneaks up on you
Where ClenchAlert fits
How to relax your jaw: the stress check-in
Key takeaway
Resources
Day vs. night clenching episode: • Jaw Clenching Day vs. Night: What the Rese...
Learn about ClenchAlert: https://clenchalert.com/
Research mentioned: McEwen, NEJM (1998); Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (2002, 2021); Journal of Dental Research (2001); 2024 review on stress and bruxism; 2018 ecological momentary assessment study on awake jaw activity.
Disclosure: Randy Clare is part of the team behind ClenchAlert.
ClenchAlert is intended for general wellness, self-awareness, and educational support only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent bruxism, TMJ disorders, headaches, tooth damage, sleep disorders, or any medical or dental condition. It is for daytime awareness practice only and is not a medical or dental treatment. This video is educational and not medical advice. If you have jaw soreness, headaches, or chipped or worn teeth, talk to your dentist or physician.
In Episode 6 of Jaw Awareness, Randy Clare explains how the fight-or-flight response can quietly tighten your jaw muscles. He also covers why that tension is so easy to miss, and a 30-second habit to help you notice it and release it.
What you'll learn:
• What fight-or-flight actually does in your body
• How stress reaches the masseter and temporalis muscles through the trigeminal nerve
• What research shows about stress and jaw clenching (bruxism), including where the evidence is limited
• Why the stress signal to your jaw is often tiny, and why that makes it hard to notice
• How to find your jaw's resting position: lips together, teeth apart
• The "stress check-in" habit and a 7-day log to bring to your dentist
Chapters
Why stress can tighten your jaw
About Randy and this episode
What fight-or-flight actually does
How the stress signal reaches your jaw
Why a tight jaw sneaks up on you
Where ClenchAlert fits
How to relax your jaw: the stress check-in
Key takeaway
Resources
Day vs. night clenching episode: • Jaw Clenching Day vs. Night: What the Rese...
Learn about ClenchAlert: https://clenchalert.com/
Research mentioned: McEwen, NEJM (1998); Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (2002, 2021); Journal of Dental Research (2001); 2024 review on stress and bruxism; 2018 ecological momentary assessment study on awake jaw activity.
Disclosure: Randy Clare is part of the team behind ClenchAlert.
ClenchAlert is intended for general wellness, self-awareness, and educational support only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent bruxism, TMJ disorders, headaches, tooth damage, sleep disorders, or any medical or dental condition. It is for daytime awareness practice only and is not a medical or dental treatment. This video is educational and not medical advice. If you have jaw soreness, headaches, or chipped or worn teeth, talk to your dentist or physician.
