Yawning is our body’s natural attempt at increasing oxygen intake to keep us alert. This is why is a common occurrence when we are tired or bored. This action should be free of pain and discomfort which is why pain when yawning may be indicative of some underlying problem. If you experience pain when yawning, it could be a sign that there is disfunction in your temporomandibular joint. This could be the result of severe joint tension, muscle stiffness, trauma, or arthritis. When you experience pain while yawning, also be aware of jaw popping, locking, or other abnormal symptoms that occur because those symptoms can indicate a serious TMJ disorder that needs medical attention and treatment.
How Does TMJ Impact Your Jaw When You Yawn?
TMJ, or the temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of your skull. This joint is easily identified by feeling the side of the head right below the ear when you open and close your jaw. When you feel symptoms like stiffness when moving your jaw, popping or clicking sounds as you open and close your jaw, or facial pain, these may be signs of a TMJ disorder. Excessive yawning or stretching the jaw to open further than intended stresses the TMJ further which can exacerbate pain and discomfort. If the muscles and other structures around the TMJ are weak or misaligned, then it is very easy for the joints to pop every time you yawn, resulting in a painful experience.
If You Experience TMJ Pain or Discomfort, call today at (310) 422 4246
What Causes TMJ Pain When Yawning?
TMJ disorders interfere with the natural flow of the movement of the jaw muscles, joints, tissues, and bones. This interference causes painful sensations when opening and closing the mouth, chewing on food, and yawning. The pain that is caused by TMJ disorders is often the result of:
- jaw injuries
- arthritis
- bruxism
- stress
- poor sleep positioning
- poor posture
- jaw misalignment
- diseases like fibromyalgia or gout
- any other action that puts unnecessary strain and tension on the TMJ
In order to identify the source of TMJ pain, the underlying problem needs to be properly diagnosed and treated. By addressing the problems causing TMJ pain, pain while yawning can also be mitigated.
Things You Can Do to Help Alleviate a Tense Jaw
The typical response when a person feels pain is to initially administer some home remedies before consulting a doctor. Home remedies are only effective in alleviating pain in the short term, but permanently treating what causes the pain would still require professional help. Here are several things that you can do to help alleviate a tense jaw:
- Avoid eating tough foods or chewing on gum that would stress your jaw even more.
- Apply either a hot pack to relax the facial muscles or a cold pack to reduce the pain and swelling.
- Relaxing your facial muscles and joints through gentle stretching exercises recommended by a therapist is beneficial.
- Massaging the jaw near the cheekbone in a circular motion or where the TMJ is located works well to alleviate stress and tension.
- Getting well-rested sleep is crucial and will improve your mood at the start of the day as well as reduce stress.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks since excessive caffeine intake can cause muscle tension and interrupt sleep leading to fatigue and stress.
- Engaging in stress-relieving activities like yoga, gardening, enjoying nature, or meditation can help relieve stress that usually causes tension in your jaw.
- Observing a good posture while at your desk, when driving, or even when walking or standing has a great impact on how you put stress and pressure on your neck and jaw. Having a poor posture leads to stiffness, soreness, and tension mostly on your spine, neck, and jaw.
- Eating foods rich in nutrients such as magnesium (which helps with muscle tension), omega-3 (which has anti-inflammatory properties), and turmeric (which decreases inflammation) can help relieve jaw pain.
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce pain and inflammation. These are commonly known as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, or an analgesic like Acetaminophen in drug stores and pharmacies.
If none of these home remedies help to improve your condition, it is best to consult with a qualified and experienced professional to give you the proper evaluation and treatment.
How to Assess and Diagnose Jaw Pain That Occurs When Yawning
Consulting with a TMJ specialist for a proper evaluation will be the first step in getting a proper diagnosis for the jaw pain that you feel when you yawn. The specialist will conduct an evaluation of your symptoms and observe the movement of your jaw when it opens and closes. Included in the evaluation would be the following questions:
- When did you first feel any discomfort or jaw pain?
- Do feel jaw pain and discomfort consistently or sporadically?
- What triggers your jaw pain?
- Do you have other medical conditions or medications being taken?
- Is this the first time you’ve seen a TMJ specialist?
- Have you had TMJ treatments before? If yes, what were the treatments that you’ve taken?
- Have you tried any home remedies, were they of any help?
- Is it a normal instance that you clench and grind your teeth?
- Do you feel pain and discomfort when you chew or yawn?
If Jaw Pain Persists, You Might Need TMJ Treatment
After being evaluated by a qualified TMJ specialist, they should be able to curate a targeted treatment plan designed to remedy your TMJ disorder. This plan may include any of the following TMJ treatments or therapies to effectively reduce jaw pain that occurs when yawning, chewing, or talking.
- Physical Therapy: When TMJ related pain is the result of poor posture or muscular problems, physical therapy for proper alignment may be the appropriate solution.
- Botox Injections: Botox is used to help with muscle contractions. This neurotoxin forces muscles to relax which alleviates tension. This can be injected directly into the muscles that surround the TMJ which should help reduce muscle strain and any associated pain.
- Biofeedback: This technology is used to monitor and observe an individual’s physical behavior to identify actions that may trigger stress responses like teeth clenching. Once these triggers are identified, patients can change their behavior to reduce the occurrences that lead to jaw pain
- Counseling: Stress related jaw pain could benefit from counseling sessions designed to identify stress triggers and find healthy ways to calm the body to prevent reactions like teeth grinding or nail biting.
- NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication can be used to help reduce swelling of the muscles and decrease discomfort. This is designed to be a temporary solution to immediate jaw pain, but most likely won’t be much help if there is a serious underlying problem that is causing the jaw pain.
- Medications: Muscle relaxants, antidepressants, or corticosteroid injections for severe levels of pain and inflammation in the jaw might be an appropriate fix for when over the counter medications are not enough to remedy TMJ pain symptoms.
- TMJ Appliances: Orthotic mouthguards offer a non-invasive treatment option designed to help align the jaw and prevent teeth clenching and grinding. Some are designed for nightly use while more serious cases of TMJD may require an oral appliance that needs to be worn at all times. These appliances are designed to fix the underlying problem, so they typically are not a permanent fixture that needs to be worn for more than several months.
- Dental or Orthodontic Procedures: TMJ related issues are sometimes related to dental problems like tooth decay or wisdom teeth. In these instances, dental or orthodontic procedures may be the appropriate solution to TMJ pain.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: For severe cases of TMD, oral surgery may be required to fix severe misalignments or other disfigurement caused by trauma.
If You Experience TMJ Pain or Discomfort, call today at (310) 422 4246
Contact Dr. Omrani If You Are Dealing with Jaw Pain When Yawning
Experiencing jaw pain while yawning is something that usually indicates that jaw pain is experienced during other common day to day activities. This is abnormal and may be the result of some underlying problem that needs to be addressed. If you are dealing with abnormal jaw pain, it is time to enlist the help of a qualified professional to assess and treat the problem. Contact Dr. Kathy Omrani, to receive a proper examination and diagnosis. We can offer you a targeted treatment plan designed to address the underlying problems that may be causing your jaw pain when yawning. Give us a call at (310) 422-4246 to schedule an appointment or find out more through our website.
TMJ Pain When Yawning FAQs
How do I stop my jaw from hurting when I yawn?
Excessive yawning is not healthy and may cause jaw pain if there is an underlying problem. To avoid this there are several remedies you can do such as practicing routine jaw exercises, meditation, eating nutrient-rich foods, or applying gentle facial massages. However, if jaw pain still persists the best option would be to consult a professional TMJ specialist.
Does TMJ go away on its own?
Depending on the severity of the TMJ disorder and the level of pain and discomfort it causes, it can go away on its own or by applying simple remedies to alleviate the symptoms. For symptoms that do not go away after home remedies are attempted, be sure to call Dr Omrani for an examination of your TMJ.
Why does one side of my jaw hurt when I chew or yawn?
Chewing is a constant action that we do when we eat and chewing properly is important in avoiding jaw pain. This repetitive action can put strain on your jaw muscles. Yawning, on the other hand, extends the jaw muscles far more than they normally reach which may also cause unnecessary strain. Both actions can result in TMJ related pain or discomfort, especially when there are other underlying problems that contribute to that discomfort.
