Neck Posture and Airway Size in Adults Who Grind Their Teeth

Sleep bruxism — grinding the teeth at night — is often treated as a stress habit or a dental nuisance. This preliminary study asked whether it might instead be part of a larger structural and respiratory picture, comparing 23 sleep-grinders with 22 symptom-free young adults on two measures: the posture of their cervical spine and the dimensions of their upper airway.

Participants were classified using formal American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria — a partner's report of grinding plus measurable dental wear — so the bruxist group was defined rigorously rather than by guesswork. The researchers then looked for whether neck posture and airway size differed between grinders and non-grinders.

This matters because it hints that teeth-grinding may be a clue, not just a complaint. If bruxism travels with a particular neck posture and airway profile, it could be one more sign that the body is compensating for a compromised airway during sleep — exactly the kind of cross-system connection the "Space to Stand Well" pillar is built to surface. As the authors note it is preliminary, but it points toward asking why the grinding is happening, not just how to pad the teeth against it.