Temporomandibular joint disorder--also known as TMJ--It's actually pretty common. About 40 % of the population will experience at least one symptom of it at some point in their lives.

TMJ causes pain and discomfort in your jaw joints. You may have trouble opening your mouth, chewing, or even experience severe pain that leads to headaches or chronic pain. There are a few things that can increase your risk for TMJ. Stress is a big one, but so are habits like chewing tough foods or gum, talking a lot, and grinding your teeth at night. If you notice a popping sound when you open or close your mouth, that could be a sign that something's not quite right with your jaw joint.

Dr. Ross Brockman is a oral maxillofacial surgeon. He says "first good step might be to see your dentist and just let them look at your bite. Make sure that you're opening well. Make sure your teeth are coming together well, and maybe even consider making it a bite splint, something you could wear at night that would help to offload some of that pressure on your joint and let that just kind of get back into a better place."

If you're dealing with TMJ, there are some steps you can take to feel better. Reducing stress and cutting back on tough foods or gum can really help. Dr. Brockman suggests using a bite splint to relieve some pressure on the joint, especially if you grind your teeth at night. Over-the-counter mouth guards might not be the best option because they can make your jaw muscles overreact, almost like you're chewing something while you sleep, which could do more harm than good.