Why is your jaw hurting after waking up?

Dealing with your jaw hurting after waking up is a frustrating way to start any morning, especially when you feel like you slept just fine. You expect to feel refreshed when the alarm goes off, but instead, you're greeted with a dull ache, a stiff hinge, or even a full-blown headache that makes it hard to even enjoy your first cup of coffee. It's one of those lingering pains that can throw off your entire mood before you've even put on your shoes. ...

May 9, 2026 · 6 min · Kicki Maloof