Tight jaw muscles can interfere with the most basic daily tasks, such as talking and chewing your food.
Conditions that cause tight jaw muscles can also be quite painful.
However, many of these conditions can be treated with medical interventions and home remedies.
LaylaBird / Getty Images
This article discusses common causes of tight jaw muscles and how to manage your symptoms.
Stress and Anxiety
Tight jaw muscles can be a side effect ofstressandanxiety.
Muscle tension throughout the body increases when you are under a lot of stress or feeling anxious.
You might not even be aware of this habit until you develop symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disorder.
This means that your immune system attacks your joints as if they were foreign to your body.
Inflammation causes pain throughout the joints in your bodywhich can include your jaw joints.
Up to 90% of people with RA also have TMJ.
This means you could have OA on one side of your jaw, but not the other.
However, symptoms typically resolve within a few days.
Once the underlying cause of your symptoms is clear, treatment can begin.
At-Home Care
In many cases, at-home care can relieve symptoms of a tight jaw.
Treatment includes massage, stretching, medications, and physical therapy.
Mouth guards can also be helpful to reduce jaw issues from teeth grinding.
However, treatment can be very effective.
Talk to your doctor or dentist about your symptoms, even if they are mild.
Early intervention can help prevent more serious jaw issues from developing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stress and mouth breathing brought on by COVID-19 can lead to jaw pain.
Wear a mouth guard to help your jaw muscles relax while you sleep.
When you clench your jaw, you are working your chewing muscles.
Over time, these muscles can get bigger.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.TMD (Temporomandibular disorders).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus symptoms and complications.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Support web connection.RA and jaw pain: Can rheumatoid arthritis cause joint pain?.
Global Healthy Living Foundation.Is your jaw pain because of arthritis?
Signs your arthritis is affecting your jaw, and what to do about it.
Practical Pain Management.Osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint.
Colgate-Palmolive Company.TMJ exercises for pain relief.
Joshua Hong DDS.TMJ diet: What to eat, what not to eat.
River Edge Dental.Muscle relaxants aren’t the only way to relax a tense jaw.
University of Michigan Health.Physical therapy for temporomandibular disorders.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.TMJ injection treatments: Lidocaine, steroids, hyaluronate & botox.
