Some of the most common causes of a stiff jaw might include TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, tetanus, and jaw trauma. Impacted wisdom teeth might also occasionally cause jaw stiffness if the impaction is severe enough to affect the roots. A person who has a stiff jaw will most likely need to see his doctor or dentist depending on what he suspects is the cause of the stiffness. After a diagnosis has been made, treatment can begin. The common causes of a stiff jaw are almost all treatable, and in most cases jaw stiffness reduces gradually after treatment begins.
TMJ is one of the more common problems that can lead to jaw stiffness. People who have TMJ suffer from problems with their jaw joints, which might result from excessive teeth grinding or gum chewing. Sometimes tooth misalignment can also lead to TMJ. The continual strain on the jaw joint may make it hard for a person to open and close her mouth at times, which is common with jaw stiffness. Treatment for TMJ varies depending on what caused the TMJ, and in most cases TMJ symptoms can be alleviated or eliminated so that problems with a stiff jaw are minimal or nonexistent.
Tetanus, which is a disease caused by bacteria, usually results in jaw stiffness. Most people initially experience jaw stiffness with tetanus, and in most cases other symptoms, such as stiff neck, sweating, and fever, occur soon after jaw stiffness begins. Many people have been vaccinated against tetanus, but those who haven't are at risk of contracting it, particularly if they cut themselves on something metallic covered in rust. There is no known cure for tetanus, but symptoms can often be managed with the use of antitoxins.
A person who has suffered from some type of jaw trauma may not be surprised to experience a stiff jaw. When injury to the jaw has occurred, particularly if the injury involved the jaw joints, it may be difficult to open and close the mouth for a few days. Jaw injuries might also lead to swelling, which could make it difficult to open the mouth. When jaw injuries cause jaw stiffness, the stiffness may decrease gradually as the injury heals. Sometimes jaw injuries lead to ongoing problems with jaw stiffness even after the healing process is complete.
Some people have wisdom teeth that become impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth is a wisdom tooth that is not able to break through the surface of the gums. Sometimes wisdom teeth become impacted at odd angles underneath the gums, and this might put pressure on the muscles around the jaw as well as on the jaw joints. Wisdom tooth impactions can often lead to jaw stiffness if the impactions are severe enough to affect the jaw muscles or joints. The best treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth is typically wisdom tooth extraction.
