When you finally crawl into your bed after a long day, the hope is to wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to go after a good night’s sleep. However, if you have noticed your jaw is continually hurting first thing in the morning, it can zap the energy out of you and keep you from getting your day started on a good note. The good news is that your dentist may be able to help figure out what is the underlying issue and provide treatment. Read on to learn three common reasons for jaw pain in the morning.
#1. Bruxism
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is one of the most common reasons for jaw pain. Many people who repeatedly clench their teeth together do it throughout the night while they are sleeping. In fact, you may not even realize that you suffer from bruxism!
Teeth grinding can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including increased stress, chronic jaw issues, caffeine use, or smoking. By visiting your dentist, they can help discover if you grind your teeth. If so, they can recommend a custom-fitted night guard that can protect your smile from the pressure of teeth grinding and keep your jaw pain-free!
#2. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jaw to the rest of the face. Face injury, an improper bite, arthritis, or bruxism can cause these joints to become misaligned, leading to what’s called a TMJ disorder. As time goes on, this issue can begin to cause major discomfort in the jaw or throughout the face and can tend to be worse first thing in the morning.
Fortunately, if you have TMJ disorder, your dentist can help treat it! There are a few options, such as custom-made mouthpieces or even Botox injections for immediate relief. In either case, you shouldn’t have to deal with any discomfort; by speaking to your dentist, there can be a solution to your issue!
#3. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops. The most common type of sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction created by the soft tissues in the back of the mouth or throat collapsing to block the airway. This can lead to someone with moderate sleep apnea to stop breathing and wake up between 120 and 239 times! This can cause your jaw to be sore the next day from the constant opening and closing of your mouth.
Your dentist can treat obstructive sleep apnea using an oral appliance, which repositions the tongue and jaw to keep the airways open. Your jaw pain will not only be alleviated, but you will breathe better while sleeping, ensuring a good night’s rest to wake up ready to take on the day!
About the Author
Dr. Sara Saba and her team at Exceptional Dentistry are eager to help you with any oral health issue, including TMJ disorder. She earned her dental doctorate at the University of Maryland at College Park and has completed many other additional courses. With a 5-star rating on Google, Dr. Saba provides a full range of services to treat jaw, neck, and ear pain. To schedule an appointment, contact her through his website or call (301) 460-3331.