When you think about strong jaws, you probably picture a great white shark’s endless rows of teeth or the snapping maw of a crocodile. However, the truth is you don’t have to be a fearsome beast of the wild to have a strong bite; the human jaw actually possesses fairly impressive strength, too.
Okay, maybe it’s not the 3,700 pounds of force that a 17-foot crocodile’s jaws can exert on its prey, but for mere average humans, our jaw strength isn’t too shabby.
How Much Force Can the Human Jaw Exert?
Everyone’s anatomy is slightly different, and different jaw structure, length, width, muscle mass, and strength affects the force of the jaw.
A study used a gnathodynamometer (a special tool with a pair of padded arms separated by springs that was designed to measure the force of a human bite) to evaluate about a thousand different bites.
The study determined that the jaw’s pressure is different when measured on the molars (back teeth) vs. a person’s incisors (front teeth). Most people (but not all) can put more pressure on their molars than on their incisors.
The strongest human jaw force measured in the study was the maximum the gnathodynamometer could read, 275 pounds of force. For men, the average pounds of force exerted by the jaw on the molars was 150 pounds and 83 pounds on the incisors. For women, the average was 108 pounds on the molars and 57 pounds on the incisors.
Ultimately, the study found that the force of the human jaw was limited not by muscle strength but by the strength of the teeth themselves. When biting down on the gnathodynamometer most participants stopped increasing pressure because their teeth hurt – not because they couldn’t press any harder.
Teeth Strength and the Force of the Jaw
Although tooth enamel is one of the hardest tissues in the human body, it is still surprisingly delicate. Even healthy teeth can be chipped, cracked, or broken when exposed to the full clamping force of the temporomandibular joints (the two joints that act as hinges to your jawbone).
Teeth that have been weakened by decay, old amalgam fillings, or other oral health problems are even more susceptible to damage from the normal force of the human bite.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Bruxism, and Your Teeth
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are characterized by abnormalities with the temporomandibular joints. Individuals with TMJ disorders often experience problems with the functionality of their joints and jaw, such as lockjaw, trouble chewing or speaking, bruxism (grinding teeth and/or clenching the jaw), and sleep bruxism (bruxism that occurs during sleep).
These problems put abnormally high amounts of wear and tear on a person’s enamel and teeth, often compromising the structure and strength of the teeth and leading to more serious health problems such as:
- Tooth decay
- Bacterial infections and abscesses
- Receding, swollen, painful, or bleeding gums
- Periodontal disease
- Severe tooth sensitivity
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Tooth loss
If you experience frequent pain or discomfort in your jaw; have clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in your jaw; or often wake up in the morning with painful teeth or headaches, then you might be suffering from a TMJ disorder or sleep bruxism.
If this sounds like you, then we strongly encourage you to schedule an examination with a dentist at Eastgate Dental Excellence. We can talk with you about your symptoms and examine your teeth for signs of wear and tear related to TMJ disorder or bruxism. Additionally, we can evaluate the range of motion, function, and movement of your temporomandibular joints to diagnose the underlying cause of your painful symptoms and recommend a treatment plan designed specifically for you.
Bruxism and TMJ Disorder Treatment at Eastgate Dental Excellence
With the jaw’s ability to exert so much force, any disorders associated with the temporomandibular joints can cause a great amount of pain and discomfort.
In addition to wearing down tooth enamel, temporomandibular joint disorders often lead to tooth sensitivity, frequent headaches and migraines, difficulty chewing, jaw pain and tenderness, neck pain, face pain, and even earaches.
At Eastgate Dental Excellence, we offer patients a variety of treatment options and therapies designed to prevent damage from bruxism and to ease the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder.
In addition to mouthguards and nightguards to prevent damage from bruxism, we also provide orthodontics that can help improve your bite alignment, sometimes resolving TMJ disorder. Our dental clinic also provides patients with Botox treatments for TMJ pain.
Botox treatments provide long-lasting relief from the pain and discomfort associated with temporomandibular joint disorder. To learn more about these treatments and other options available with our dentists in Cincinnati, we welcome you to schedule a jaw pain consultation at Eastgate Dental Excellence today.
Sources:
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-power-of-the-human-jaw/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120316093427.htm
FAQs
In addition to wearing down tooth enamel, temporomandibular joint disorders often lead to tooth sensitivity, frequent headaches and migraines, difficulty chewing, jaw pain and tenderness, neck pain, face pain, and even earaches.
How bad can jaw pain be? ›
Jaw pain may be mild or can be severe and affect your quality of life. Many factors can cause jaw pain, such as grinding your teeth, gum disease or a toothache. But jaw pain may also be a symptom of a serious issue, including a broken or dislocated jaw or a heart attack.
How powerful is the human jaw? ›
Did you know that the human jaw is capable of exerting up to 125 kg of force in a single bite? On average, the female bite registers at 50 kg, while the male bite registers at 70 kg. There is a wide variance in pressure between the front and the back teeth, with the back teeth (molars) bearing most of the stress.
Is your jaw strong enough to break your teeth? ›
But your jaw can grit and grind with as much as 250 pounds of force. Ouch! Chronic, involuntary teeth grinding – technically called bruxism – can lead to all sorts of health problems. You could crack or fracture your teeth, which may require crowns or dental implants.
How many pounds of pressure can your jaw exert? ›
The average strength of a human's bite is 162 pounds per square inch. Which is a lot! But, it's nothing compared to nature's best chompers!
Can jaw pain fix itself? ›
For most people, pain in the area of the jaw joint or muscles does not signal a serious problem. Generally, discomfort from these conditions is occasional and temporary, often occurring in cycles. The pain eventually goes away with little or no treatment.
Is jaw pain treatable? ›
The TMJ treatment that's right for you depends on several factors, including the underlying cause and the severity of your pain. Providers usually try noninvasive options first, like medications or nonsurgical treatments. If your symptoms don't improve, you might need jaw surgery.
How hard can the human jaw bite down? ›
While some animals, like alligators and lions, can chomp down with over 1,000 pounds of force, the average human bite force is only around 200–300 pounds of force. The big difference may seem strange, but there's a good reason for it.
How strong is the jaw muscle? ›
The strongest muscle based on its weight is the masseter, the primary chewing muscle. With all muscles of the jaw working together it can close the teeth with a force as great as 55 pounds (25 kilograms) on the incisors or 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) on the molars.
What is the strongest bone in the jaw? ›
The mandible is the largest and strongest bone in the face. It forms the lower part of the jaw and part of the mouth. The mandible is the only moveable bone of the skull and is attached to muscles involved in chewing and other mouth movements. It also holds the bottom teeth in place.
It hurts when you try to chew food or talk. You can't open or close your mouth. Your ears hurt. Your face — particularly your lower lip — feels numb.
Can a dentist break your jaw bone? ›
The most common way that dental negligence jaw fractures happen is during a tooth extraction, when so much force is exerted to remove the tooth that your jaw is fractured as a result. Mistakes that happen during dental implants procedures can also cause fractured jaws, as well as nerve damage.
Who has the strongest jaw in the world? ›
Saltwater crocodiles
The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is often heralded as the animal with the strongest bite on Earth. In a 2012 study, the bite of one individual was recorded at 16,414 Newtons or 3,689 pounds of force—making it the strongest recorded bite of any individual animal.
Is the human jaw strong enough to bite a finger off? ›
“It takes quite a bit of force to completely amputate a finger. We do have a ton of dog bites that cause complete amputation of the fingers. So, it's possible [for a human] but you'd have to have someone who is pretty vicious to bite with that kind of force.”
What is the max psi of a human bite? ›
Scientists measure the amount of pressure exerted by an animal's bite in pounds per square inch (psi). The human bite force is 162 psi. The bite force of some dogs can reach 250 psi, while some bears have a bite force of over 1,000 psi.
What is the strongest thing a human can bite through? ›
Amazingly, platinum, iron, copper, tin and lead all rank below Apatite in hardness. I would rank these materials as among the hardest things teeth could scratch or otherwise damage. That means that potentially, if you could digest these substances, and you wanted to eat them, your teeth could do the rest.
What is excruciating pain in the jaw? ›
Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial pain. It's often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums. It usually happens in short, unpredictable attacks that can last from a few seconds to about 2 minutes. The attacks stop as suddenly as they start.
How long is too long for jaw pain? ›
The good news is that most TMJ symptoms will clear up in no more than three weeks typically. However, certain TMJ conditions, especially those brought about by arthritis or bruxism, can last months or years, depending on the severity of the underlying condition.
When should I go to the DR for jaw pain? ›
When to see a doctor. Seek medical attention if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can't open or close your jaw completely. Your doctor, your dentist or a TMJ specialist can discuss possible causes and treatments for your problem.
What happens if you ignore jaw pain? ›
TMJ disorder often causes pain and discomfort in the jaw, face, ears, and neck. Ignoring TMJ symptoms can lead to persistent or worsening pain, making it increasingly difficult to eat, speak, and perform daily activities comfortably. The jawbone and muscles along the jaw tense up when there is a joint disorder.
