{"id":69,"date":"2023-09-26T15:01:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T15:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepbetterdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=69"},"modified":"2023-10-24T15:05:46","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T15:05:46","slug":"what-do-i-do-if-my-jaw-is-stiff-or-locked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepbetterdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=69","title":{"rendered":"What Do I Do If My Jaw Is Stiff Or Locked?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Do you wake up in the morning with a jaw so tight that it\u2019s difficult to open your mouth? Is it incredibly uncomfortable, even painful, when you open and close your mouth? If so, you could have a locked jaw from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder<\/a>) which commonly causes these symptoms. If this sounds like you, keep reading to learn more about what it is and what you can do to help yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Causes a Locked Jaw?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have a joint on either side of our face where the jawbone meets the base of the skull referred to as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These allow your mouth to open and close without issue when it\u2019s working properly. If your TMJ becomes misaligned, though, it can stretch out the ligaments and inflame the muscles that hold it in place. Over time, this allows the disc that holds the upper and lower jaws in place to dislocate which leads to a stiff jaw that won\u2019t function right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are There Other Symptoms Besides Stiffness?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are other symptoms you might notice if you\u2019re having TMJ issues including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n