

This stretch helps eliminate stress in the facial muscles, upper and lower jaw, and neck. However, you shouldn’t do this exercise if it causes you any pain. Stop at the point when you feel discomfort. Slowly open your mouth as wide as you can, then slowly close it shut. Next, use your tongue to apply gentle pressure. Press the tip of your tongue onto the roof of your mouth, directly behind your top front teeth without touching them. This exercise helps stretch the muscles of the jaw and neck. Start by repeating this stretch 3 times, and work your way up to 12 repetitions. Hold for 30 seconds, and then slowly release your jaw back to the starting position. Slowly pull down until you feel slight discomfort on the tight side of your jaw. Then, place your fingers on the top of your front four bottom teeth. Repeat small mouth-opening and mouth-closing movements several times as a warmup. In some cases, you may be able to relieve tight jaw muscles using targeted exercises and stretches. Though uncommon, infections can permanently damage muscles or nerves, which can lead to repeated bouts of lockjaw. If you have an infection around your mouth, it can affect jaw movement. Some medications may trigger jaw pain symptoms. Potential causes of jaw damage include blunt force, such as a striking injury, and even cancer treatments like surgery or radiation. Sometimes an injury to the face can affect part of the jaw that causes movement. The tetanus vaccine (Tdap) prevents this infection and has significantly reduced the incidence of tetanus in the United States. Symptoms include stiffness in the abdomen, trouble swallowing, and painful muscle contractions in the jaw and neck. Tetanus (lockjaw) is a potentially fatal bacterial infection. It can also cause radiating pain to the surrounding area. It can cause deterioration and loss of function of the jaw bone, cartilage, and tissue. Though rare, it’s possible for osteoarthritis (OA) to occur within the temporomandibular joints. RA may damage the jaw joint and surrounding tissues. It affects muscles and joints throughout the body.Īccording to 2015 research, up to 80 percent of people with RA have TMD, which is a cause of tightness in the jaw. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Excessive chewingĬhewing gum or any other substance in excess may result in tightness in the lower jaw (mandible). It can also occur when you’re awake, although you may not be consciously aware of it.īruxism can cause tightness or feelings of soreness in the face, neck, and upper or lower jaw. Teeth grinding (bruxism)īruxism (teeth grinding) or clenching may be caused by stress, genetics, or dental problems like misaligned teeth. Stress can also cause other similar symptoms, such as tension headaches. The pain may be worse when you eat or talk. These actions can cause feelings of tightness in the jaw and pain during sleeping and waking hours.

You may also hold your jaw in a clenched position while you’re awake without being aware of it. Stressįeelings of stress and anxiety can sometimes cause you to unintentionally clench your jaw or grind your teeth while you’re asleep. TMD pain is often temporary and may resolve with at-home care. Chewing may also produce a clicking sound or grinding sensation. Chewing food may increase feelings of pain. TMD can also cause an aching or throbbing pain and feelings of tenderness in or near the ear, jaw, and face. These joints are located between the lower jaw and the temporal bone. It can cause pain or locking in one or both hinge joints (temporomandibular joints). TMD causes pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD or TMJD)
