Help! I Can’t Close My Jaw!

There are many reasons why you might not be able to close your jaw. Give us a call at (503) 328-6388 right away if you are having unbearable jaw pain. We might be able to walk you through some steps to alleviate the pain over the phone. We will probably ask you to come in so we can have a look in person to determine exactly what is going on. 

Is it a cavity?

It is possible that tooth decay has reached such a far point that it is too painful for you to close your mouth. Even chewing hard foods like granola, apples, or gummy vitamins might hurt your teeth. If this is the case, avoid all those foods and any that bother your teeth. 

Did I break my tooth?

Even if you cannot feel a crack or chip on any of your teeth, it is possible that your jaw pain is due to some sort of fracture. A crack or chip can be so small that it goes practically undetected by the patient. With the state-of-the-art technology at Hood View Dental, we can determine if there are some impurities on your teeth. Tiny cracks and chips can be hard to clean and therefore accumulate bacteria and plaque leading to tooth decay. This might be what is causing you so much jaw pain.

Am I just stressed?

Believe it or not some simple stretches and a mouth guard might be all you need to heal your sore mouth. Just by feeling your neck Dr. Vicki Joanna Reichlein can tell if a strained muscle is causing you jaw pain. While you might think you lead a rather stress-free life, your subconscious might have another side to that story. For some patients, we have seen tight and strained muscles on one side of the neck due to intense grinding. This may be occurring while the patient is asleep. We can demonstrate some easy jaw stretches and massage techniques to loosen your jaw muscles and relieve the tension. Also, using a specially fitted mouthguard while you sleep can help prevent grinding and that extra strain on your neck muscles. 

Do I have a tumor? 

In rare cases, there may be some issue with the tissue inside of your mouth that is preventing you from closing your jaw. Sometimes biting your cheek repeatedly can cause swelling and tearing leading to infections. While tumors are rare, our professionals at Hood View Dental will take a look to determine if there is in fact something impeding your bite. 

What should I do?

No matter what the issue is, we will help you get to the bottom of it. Give us a call at (503) 328-6388 to schedule an appointment.