Do you experience jaw pain, clicking, or tension—especially after eating, talking, or during times of stress? You’re not alone. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are among the most common causes of facial pain, affecting millions of adults and children. But did you know that the way you swallow and chew—habits shaped by oromyofunctional disorders (OMDs)—can be a major contributor?
At BreatheWorks, we help patients uncover the hidden links between TMJ pain, swallowing patterns, and chewing habits, empowering them to find relief through targeted, whole-patient care.
Understanding the TMJ and Its Role
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull, enabling you to chew, speak, swallow, and yawn. It’s one of the most active and complex joints in the body—moving thousands of times each day.
How Swallowing Patterns Affect the TMJ
Thousands of Swallows, Daily Strain
The average person swallows 600–2,000 times per day (Logemann, 1998). With each swallow, the tongue, jaw, and facial muscles work together in a highly coordinated motion.
- A healthy swallow: The tongue presses gently against the palate, guiding the food or liquid back smoothly, with minimal effort from the jaw.
- Dysfunctional swallow (e.g., tongue thrust, reverse swallow): The jaw, lips, and facial muscles are overused. The tongue may push against or between the teeth, and the jaw may clench or move excessively.
Over time, these dysfunctional patterns place extra strain on the tmj dysfunction, muscles, and ligaments—leading to pain, fatigue, clicking, and even joint damage.
Chewing Habits: Loading the Jaw
The Role of Chewing in TMJ Health
Chewing is another essential, repetitive task. Healthy chewing distributes the forces evenly across the jaw joints and muscles.
- Unilateral chewing (favoring one side): Creates muscle imbalances, increasing tension on one TMJ.
- Soft, processed foods: Require less effort, leading to weaker jaw muscles and less stable joints.
- Rushed eating or inadequate chewing: Increases the risk of jaw fatigue, improper bite, and even digestive problems.
Oromyofunctional Disorders and Chewing
OMDs such as tongue thrust, open-mouth posture, and low tongue tone often result in:
- Incomplete chewing
- Overuse of facial muscles
- Persistent open-mouth chewing, which strains the jaw joint and surrounding tissues
Key fact:
A 2018 review in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation found that abnormal swallowing and chewing patterns are directly associated with a higher risk for TMJ pain, tmj headache, and muscle tension (de Felício et al., 2018).
The Cumulative Effect: “Weightlifting for the Jaw”
Think of your TMJ like a joint in the gym. If you lifted weights with poor form, hundreds of times per day, you’d quickly develop pain and injury.
- Dysfunctional swallowing and chewing acts the same way, applying uneven, excessive forces to the jaw joint thousands of times a day.
- Over time, this results in pain, inflammation, muscle tightness, and sometimes long-term joint damage.
Signs You May Have Swallow or Chewing-Related TMJ Pain
- Jaw pain, clicking, or popping—especially after eating or talking
- Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
- Frequent headaches, neck pain, or facial muscle tightness
- Tired jaw after meals or long conversations
- History of orthodontic relapse or repeated dental work
- Noticing that you chew mostly on one side
- Open-mouth chewing or frequent tongue pushing against teeth
How BreatheWorks Can Help
At BreatheWorks, we specialize in connecting the dots between TMJ pain and oromyofunctional patterns:
- Comprehensive assessment: We evaluate your swallow, chew, airway, tongue posture, and jaw function.
- Myofunctional therapy: Targeted exercises to retrain the tongue, lips, and jaw for efficient, balanced movement.
- TMJ relief strategies: Gentle manual therapy, postural retraining, and home care tips to reduce pain and improve function.
- Collaboration: We work with your dental, medical, and orthodontic team for a truly integrated approach to jaw health.
Takeaway: Small Changes, Big Relief
You use your jaw thousands of times every day. Addressing how you swallow and chew can reduce pain, improve jaw stability, and protect your TMJ for the long run.
If you’re struggling with TMJ pain, jaw fatigue, or persistent headaches, consider a comprehensive oromyofunctional assessment. Relief is possible—one healthy swallow, one balanced chew at a time.
