What causes TMJ disorder (lock Jaw)?
Many TMJ-related symptoms are caused by the effects of physical stress on the structures around the joint. These structures include: * Cartilage disk at the joint * Muscles of the jaw, face, and neck * Nearby ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves * Teeth For many people with temporomandibular joint disorders, the cause is unknown. Some causes given for this condition are not well proven. These included: * A bad bite or orthodontic braces * Stress and tooth grinding. Many people with TMJ problems do not grind their teeth, and many who have been grinding their teeth for a long time do not have problems with their TMJ joint. For some people, the stress associated with this disorder may be caused by the pain as opposed to being the cause of the problem. Poor posture can also be an important factor in TMJ symptoms. For example, holding the head forward while looking at a computer all day strains the muscles of the face and neck. Other factors that might make TMJ symptoms worse are stress, po
