jaw shutting O_o

[Asylum]

so my mouth will randomly shut and i can't open it... i'll be able to open it a smidge, only able to stick on finger in to try to pry it open, but it's closed.. i can't move it.. it's scary.. eventually it will open up, but a few days ago it was stuck for over 8 hours... i was so scared i wouldn't be able to open it. i don't understand why this is happening, and how i can stop it, and how i can open it when it closes... it's really scary.. please help!

[Scarface]

Question: Do you grind your teeth a lot?

If you do you may have a condition called TMJ (http://www.medicinenet.com/temporomandibular_joint__disorder/article.htm) I would recommend seeing a doctor about that. Is it painful at all? Or does it just lock? I hope everything is figured out soon.

[Asylum]

i may when i sleep, however i don't when i'm awake.
it hurts a lot.. and it locks. thank you for your help :) i'll talk to my doctor about it

[Scarface]

Also there are things called Jaw guards. It's like what football players wear so they don't bite off their tongue, but it's a cushioning for your teeth. When you grind your teeth you grind away the enamel along with the teeth and strain on your jaw causing tension in the joints and muscles most likely causing the lock.

[Asylum]

thank you :) i did a test this week. apparently if i sleep with my retainer the next day it get's locked... if i don't sleep with it, it's fine.. so i'm going to talk to my dentist about it and see what he thinks i should do. thanks for your help