What causes tmj and jaw misalignment?

Variety of causes: Trauma, heredity, a wide yawn or function, playing a musical instrument- mouth, constant vocals/singing, whiplash in an auto accident, dentally caused by a filling /restoration that is too high in bite, etc

TMJ disorder cause: can occur when there is a problem that involve the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint and associated structures, or both. See orofacial pain practitioner for evaluation and treatment.

A few things: Causes of TMJ syndrome are not completely understood.. Causes may include, misalignment (malocclusion) of or trauma to the teeth or jaw, teeth grinding (bruxism),, poor posture, stress or anxiety, arthritis or other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders, excessive gum chewing. Treatment can be complex and beyond the scope of this answer. See a TMJ expert for guidance.

TMJ: Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders-tmd#1