Many people experience the awful sensation of their jaw locking without knowing what’s causing the pain.

If you’re wonderingwhy your jaw always hurts, you’re not alone.

There are several possible causes for the problem, many of which are easily treatable.

Young brunette woman experiencing jaw pain

Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tetanus are less common than the remaining causes.

Tetanus is extremely rare (via theCDC).

If you’re experiencing this combination of symptoms, contact a healthcare professional right away.

Woman holding an apple and her jaw in pain

These require a medical diagnosis to ensure proper treatment is administered.

We’ve provided a helpful overview below to get you on the right track.

In severe cases, TMJ leads to tinnitus, or a ringing in your ears, if left untreated.

Woman holding a coffee cup and massaging her jaw

This typically happens if you chew gum frequently as this leads to a tightening effect in your lower jaw.

If you continue to chew gum excessively, you may even develop TMJ over time.

The more you chew, the more you work your jaw muscles.

A dentist and a patience look over x-rays

If you overwork your jaw muscles, it leads to a deterioration of the temporomandibular joint, perFlushing Hospital.

The smile stretch is usually recommended for people experiencing jaw pain.

You only need to open your jaw another two inches or so.

Then, take a deep breath in through your mouth and exhale as you slowly release the smile.

Just remember to not smile so widely that it hurts.

Mouth guards are available to purchase through most household retailers.

All it’s crucial that you do is follow the instructions provided with the mouth guard.