The Hidden Connection Between Jaw Pain, Digestive Issues, and Nervous System Dysregulation
When people think of jaw pain or digestive discomfort, they often look for local causes: teeth grinding, a dental problem, indigestion, or food sensitivities. While these may play a role, there’s often a deeper connection that goes unnoticed — the nervous system.
How the Nervous System Connects the Jaw and Gut
Your jaw and digestive system are both closely tied to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) — the part of your body that regulates stress, rest, and recovery.
Jaw Pain (TMJ, clenching, grinding): Often linked to stress and stored tension in the body. When your system is in a state of fight-or-flight, muscles in the jaw tighten as part of a protective response.
Digestive Issues (bloating, IBS, reflux, irregular bowel movements): The gut is highly sensitive to the state of the nervous system. When stress dominates, blood flow and motility in the digestive system are disrupted, leading to discomfort and dysfunction.
In short: an overactive stress response can manifest in both jaw pain and gut issues. These symptoms are signals that the nervous system may be dysregulated and stuck in patterns of hypervigilance or shutdown.
Signs You May Be Experiencing Nervous System Dysregulation
Frequent jaw clenching or teeth grinding
Tension headaches or facial pain
Chronic bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
Feeling "on edge" or, conversely, disconnected and fatigued
Trouble sleeping or staying relaxed
Is this stopping you from doing the things you love — like going to the gym, enjoying meals, or even getting a good night’s sleep?
How We Can Help
At Move With Eze, we look beyond the surface symptoms. Our trauma-informed approach integrates soft tissue therapy, movement rehabilitation, nervous system regulation techniques, and mind-body somatic therapy to address the root cause:
Release Stored Tension – Gentle bodywork helps calm tight jaw and neck muscles while signalling safety to the nervous system.
Support Digestion Through Regulation – Techniques that shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest mode, allowing the gut to function more smoothly.
Build Awareness & Resilience – We guide clients in recognising the body’s stress patterns and learning self-regulation strategies, so changes last beyond the treatment room.
Holistic Movement & Breathing – Specific practices to ease jaw tension, improve posture, and support vagal tone for better digestion and calm.
A Different Kind of Healing
Jaw pain and digestive issues are not just inconveniences — they are your body’s way of speaking up. By listening to these signals and working with the nervous system, we can support your body in finding balance again.
At Move With Eze, we also offer mind and body somatic therapy to help you release stored stress, reconnect with your body, and restore balance in a safe and supportive way.
If you’ve been struggling with jaw tension or digestive problems, and suspect stress may be playing a role, we’d love to help you explore a more holistic path to healing.
👉 Book your session here or reach out to learn more about our trauma-informed approach.