Your jaw and neck share more than you'd think — the muscles that clench your jaw sit right next to the ones that support your head, connected through the same fascia and nerve pathways. When you grind your teeth or hold tension in your jaw (often without noticing, especially during stress or sleep), that tightness commonly radiates into the neck and shoulders, and can even trigger headaches. A few gentle jaw stretches and a conscious "lips together, teeth apart" reset during the day can ease this spillover. If you notice clicking, locking, or persistent jaw pain, it's worth seeing a dentist or TMJ specialist rather than only working on the neck.