Why Is My Jaw Sore When I Wake Up

Knowing the cause of your jaw pain can be the first step in addressing the pain. There are numerous possibilities, too.

Teeth grinding or teeth clenching

One of the most likely causes of your morning jaw pain is bruxism. That’s the medical term for teeth grinding. You may be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw in your sleep without realizing it.

Cavities or gum disease

Tooth cavities usually develop first in the outer layers of a tooth. If untreated, the decay can spread into the inner layers of a tooth and down to the root and surrounding bone. The result: a throbbing jaw.

Periodontitis, or gum disease, can be a cause, too. Periodontitis usually starts out as inflammation in your gums from an accumulation of bacteria, as well as from a buildup of plaque on your teeth. Without treatment, it can work its way down into your bones and other tissues and cause significant pain.

Sinus inflammation

You have some sinuses close to the roots of your upper teeth and your jawbone. And when those sinuses fill with fluid, the congestion can create pressure on your teeth and jawbone. Sinus infections or sinus inflammation can make your jaw ache.

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Sleeping position

If you’ve woken up with a stiff neck, you can attest that sleeping position can cause some pretty annoying aches and pains. And if you sleep on your stomach or side, you may unintentionally push your jaw out of its natural position and put pressure on your jaw. The result is a jaw that aches when your alarm clock rings in the morning.

TMJ disorder

Temporomandibular disorders can affect your two temporomandibular joints, which connect your lower jaw to your skull. A temporomandibular joint disorder can cause pain in your jaw, face, and neck, as well as stiffness in your jaw. It might even limit your ability to move your jaw or cause a malocclusion, or misalignment, of your teeth.

Wisdom teeth

Third molars, better known as wisdom teeth, might be notorious for causing jaw pain. Often, there’s not enough room for this last set of teeth to fully erupt, so they can put pressure on the other teeth. They can grow in crooked and cause misalignment, which can be painful. And they often get impacted, or stuck in your jaw and unable to completely erupt through the gums, which can cause pain and stiffness in your jaw.

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