Do you wake up in the morning with a jaw so tight that it’s difficult to open your mouth? Is it incredibly uncomfortable, even painful, when you open and close your mouth? If so, you could have a locked jaw from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) which commonly causes these symptoms. If this sounds like you, keep reading to learn more about what it is and what you can do to help yourself.

Your body really is interconnected. What affects one system may begin to affect another if you’re not careful. This may be the case with rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea. Studies have shown that there is a direct link between the two ailments even though they affect completely different parts of your body.

If you’re curious to learn how these seemingly unconnected disorders can affect one another, continue reading.