Why Does My Jaw Feel Tight?
Do you wake up in the morning with a tightness in your jaw? Is it hard to open your mouth to yawn or brush your teeth right away? Or maybe you feel some tightness after eating. If this is familiar to you, you may be one of the 5-12% of the population that suffers from TMD. TMD stands for Temporomandibular Disorder. It is a general term that describes several conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or associated muscles. These disorders can affect anyone but tend to affect people between 20-40 years old and women more commonly than men. TMD starts as an acute episode, but many people go on to develop chronic symptoms.
Jaw Pain? Try Physical Therapy
Do you have pain in your jaw? Do you have trouble smiling, yawning, or chewing? Do you have clicking or popping in your jaw or have been told you clench or grind your teeth? Do you feel you’ve tried all the retainers or guards from your dentist, and just haven’t gotten back to 100 percent yet? If so, you may want to consider physical therapy (PT)!
