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My TMJ physical therapsit told me that everyone clenches their teeth at some point in their life due to stress. So it's normal that if you are experiencing something stressful in your life right now (and a good situation- something that makes you happy or causes excitement- is considered stressful on your body as well) that you might be clenching/grinding your teeth at night.

On the other hand, some people are chronic nighttime grinders but do not know they are until the body starts to give way and symptoms start appearing (like the sore neck, for example).

In short, it's difficult to say what might be going on, althought it doesn't sound like something that's presently alarming. It would definitely be worth it to find a TMJ dr/dentist in your area so he/sh can check you for other possible signs of TMJD to see if this is just a short-term occurance or if it has been going on for a while (due to any number of reasons).

Definitely do not try to make your jaw pop by extending it to your limit, as tempting as it might be to do.

Do some stretching excercises on your neck/back before you go to bed and also when you wake up. Since your jaw joints are sore, there are a few small exercises which have helped my masseter muscles (chewing muscles) a great deal:

- With your tongue resting gently on the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth (like when you say the letter "N"), open and close your mouth at a quick pace a few times. Also, with the tongue in the same place, wiggle your jaw from side to side. The tonge in this position will ensure that you do not overextend. If you have popping when doing these, make your movements smaller. If you are still popping, do not do these exercises. You should not be popping at all when doing these. This is an easy exercise which you can repeat as many times as you like throughout the day. This is especially helpful when you are in a tense or stressful situation as these muscles can clench during the day, whether your teeth are touching or not (and your teeth should never be touching unless you are eating or swallowing).

- Massage your masseter muscles by placing the thumb of your opposite hand (eg- left hand to right muscle) inside your mouth and gently massaging on the outside of your cheek with your remaining fingers (search on the web to see exactly where this mucle is so you know where to massage). Do this before going to bed and when you wake up as well. If you feel soreness, tenderness or pain when you do this, you are most likely grinding your teeth at night. This exercise helps to loosen them up.

Good luck, make that appointment to the dr and keep us posted.

And Happy Thanksgiving!