Lock Jaw

Update: I have recently found, purchased and wrote up reviews on two TMJ Exercise programs. They are similar TMJ Exercises that my TMJ Physical Therapist uses to treat my TMJ patients. Click here to read reviews on TMJ Exercise products.

Lock Jaw is so annoying. It really does get in the way when it happens. It's hard to talk, swallow, and function.

There's basically two different forms of Lock Jaw...

#1 A True Lock...#2 Trismus...

A True TMJ Lockjaw is when the meniscus (disc) in the Temporomandibular Joint is locked or stuck out of place. It usually gets stuck or locked in a forward position.

So, it is sitting in front of the Condyle and doesn't allow the Jaw to Open. This occurs when the muscles and ligaments in attached to the joint capsule is fatigued and tired of working.

The main cause of the fatigue in the Locked Jaw situation is a Bad Bite. Go to the Bad Bite page for more info on that.

The fatigue and "Malfunction" (for some reason I thought of Ward Robe Malfunction) can also be caused by regular muscle fatigue from clenching and Tension.

But the main cause of the TMJ Lockjaw is because the Bad Bite causes constant overworking of muscles and ligaments in the joint.

Basically, the Bad Bites makes it More Probable for the muscles to fatigue, thus...the tissues don't function properly more often.

Trismus is when the muscles are in a Spasm. The muscles lock up and tighten which doesn't allow the jaw to function normally. This can be treated at home with Home Remedy therapies.

But it's hard to tell even for me as a TMJ Dentist to know for certain. There's things that can help us know such as the amount of opening that you can open.

If you can only open your mouth about 15 mm (about the width of the tip of your little finger), then there's a good chance that it is a TRUE TMJ Lockjaw, and you should seek immediate attention from your local TMJ Dentist.

If you can open your mouth beyond 33 mm or so ( two little finger widths), then there's a good chance that it's Trismus and not a True Lock Jaw and can heal itself with Conservative Home Remedies.

If you have a Locked Jaw for a week, and it hasn't gotten better, call your TMJ Doc Now. Don't put it off any longer as the Jaw can actually bond in the closed lock position requiring only Surgery to open it.

Update: I have recently found, purchased and wrote up reviews on two TMJ Exercise programs. They are similar TMJ Exercises that my TMJ Physical Therapist uses to treat my TMJ patients. Click here to read reviews on TMJ Exercise products.

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