Objectives To evaluate the association between low back pain (LBP) and painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Methods Systematic review of observational studies. Searches were conducted using OVID MEDLINE, CINHAL, Web of Science and PUBMED databases up to 21 October 2022. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS). Results Eight studies were included in the present review with meta‐analysis. The first onset of TMDs was more likely in patients with previous chronic LBP (hazard ratio (HR) 1.53 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28; 1.83, p < .00001). In addition, patients with chronic LBP had 3.25 times the odds (OR) 95% CI: 1.94; 5.43, p < .00001 of having chronic TMDs than those who did not have chronic LBP. In addition, the higher the exposure to chronic LBP, the higher the risk of developing a first onset of TMDs. Conclusions Chronic LBP can be considered a risk/contributing factor for painful TMDs. Although there is a high certainty in the evidence linking chronic LBP with the risk of a first onset of TMDs, there are insufficient studies to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, while an association between chronic LBP and chronic TMDs and a dose–effect was observed between these two conditions, a limited number of studies and evidence exist to support these findings. Future studies are needed to increase the body of evidence. We developed a systematic review and meta‐analysis. The risk of bias was assessed with the QUIPS tool and the certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach. Longitudinal studies have shown that chronic low back pain is associated with a higher risk of first‐onset temporomandibular disorders. Cross‐sectional studies have revealed a correlation between chronic low back pain and chronic temporomandibular disorders. Additionally, secondary analyses indicated that a longer persistence of low back pain is associated with a worse prognosis for both the first‐onset and its chronification