Locked jaw symptoms arise not only from one cause. It may be from tetanus, temporomandibular joint disorder, or muscle trismus. TMJ-induced lockjaw may be preceded by the following:
Locked Jaw Symptoms
- Biting and chewing discomfort
- Ear/headaches
- Tender jaw and neck/shoulder pain
- Dull face ache
- Clicking, popping or grating sound when opening/closing mouth
Causes Of Locked Jaw
- Tetanus
- Effect of physical stress on the structures around the joint, including cartilage disk at the joint, muscles of jaw, face, and neck, nearby ligaments, blood vessels and nerves, and teeth.
- Poor posture. Angling the head at the computer all day may strain neck and face muscles and result in lockjaw.
- Stress, poor diet, lack of sleep
- Excessive gum chewing or nail biting
- Size of food one pushes into the mouth
- Joint diseases like osteoarthritis
- Bad alignment of the teeth due to dental defect
- Grinding of teeth during sleep
Treatment For Locked Jaw
You should tell your family physician about the symptoms so he can choose the appropriate treatment for you. Depending on the causes and symptoms, here are some cures:
- Have your dentist check the alignment of your teeth, especially those with crowns or bridges
- For those who grind their teeth while sleeping, a biting splint can help
- In case of tetanus, antitoxin treatments are administered.
Home Remedies For Locked Jaw
- Gently stretch, relax, and massage the muscles around your jaw.
- Actions like yawning, singing, and chewing gum can lock the jaw so refrain from doing these too often.
- Apply heat or cold compress on your face.
- Lay a poultice of flaxseed meal with laudanum and sugar of lead water to the jaws and neck.
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Can accidental injection of anesthesia on the jaw muscle cause locked jaw? My lock jaw is not painful and is on the left side. Could anesthesia have caused this?