How do you get lockjaw?

Answer 1

Lockjaw is the common name for a bacterial disease called tetanus. Just search for tetanus or lockjaw. To answer the actual question it is usually caused by deep cuts or wounds, particularly those caused by stepping on a rusty nail that has been sitting outside and has accumulated the tetanus bacteria on it. The bacteria is more likely to gather when there is a presence of human or animal fecal matter (manure). However, tetanus is likely to be in nearly any low-oxygen environment. Any open wound has the risk for introducing tetanus into the body. On occasion, it can come from piercings and tattoos done in unsanitary conditions.

So it is important to get a tetanus booster shot every 5 years or so. If you do step on a rusty nail or otherwise have a puncturing wound, you should try to let it bleed a bit, clean and disinfect the wound as well as you can, and see a doctor if your tetanus shot is not up to date or the wound is very deep. A tetanus booster might not fully prevent tetanus, particularly if it is has been at least 5 years, and there is a chance that getting a booster even immediately after possible exposure won't fully prevent it. However, even then, it is still better to have a partial immunity or have a booster after the exposure than it is to have none at all. The difference could be some discomfort and jerking for a few weeks as opposed to being in intensive care or on life support.

Differentiation from other conditions

Your jaws can lock due to having too much iron in your body or when you faint and you grip your teeth together when you fall and this causes your jaw to lock -- this is not a painful problem. While some could call this "lock jaw" as it has some of the same symptoms, is not lockjaw. A stroke or injury to the jaw can cause the jaws to lock, and so can TMJ (a disorder of the joints of the jaw).

Answer 2

You may need to visit a chiropractor or a physical therapist to do so. Often, clenching the jaw due to stress will cause inflammation or dislocation in the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Answer 3

You can get lockjaw from tetanus.