TMJ?

[MsRo]

I have self-diagnosed myself with this as I haven't been able to bite down on anything on the left side of my mouth since Sunday. Some friends of mine have it (bad, according to them) and they all have some kind of mouthguard they wear to sleep.

Does anyone have a less severe case? Is there anything I can do? This is *totally* uncomfortable and sometimes downright painful. One thing I know about myself is that I do grind my teeth at night. Could this be causing it? I just want the tightness to STOP.

/rant

Thanks!

[bex]

Hey MsRo,

I have TMJ and I know exactly what you mean about the tightness. It acts up for me when I'm stressed (and grind my teeth at night) or if I've been chewing too much gum. I have a bite plate (like a mouthguard) that I wear at night and honestly, it feels like heaven. It's hard to explain but it basically relaxes my whole jaw. Have you talked to your dentist about getting one made? My TMJ isn't severe, but my bite plate really does help.

[keska]

TMJ pain can be caused by different things. Grinding your teeth at night would definitely cause TMJ. DH has a bite guard for this very reason. It really helps him. I've had my jaw lock up and often get TMJ pain when I have had severe tension headaches.

[tlew12778]

I have a bite plate as well. I rarely use it now though. It basically trains your jaw to stay in the correct position so as to not irritate your jaw joint. It will also prevent you from grinding your teeth if you are grinding subconsciously or while asleep.

There are some exercises that you can do as well but I have never tried them.

[Kristibell]

I have TMJ so badly that my jaw cracks when i yawn, eat, just open my mouth wide. The only way to stop the cracking is via surgery and since it's not painful I am not sure I want to take that route yet. I used to wake up with headaches and never knew why. Turns out I was clenching and grinding my teeth in my sleep. At the reccomendation of my dentist I got a mouth guard. It's the best thing I could have done. My headaches are gone and now I can't sleep without it.

Tylenol may help the pain, but I also recommend talking to your dentist.

[lml41981]

My cousin had TMJ so bad that once her jaw locked and wouldn't unlock. She ended up having to have jaw replacement surgery.

Fortunately, mine isn't that bad. My jaw clicks when I open my mouth wide and gets sore and tired when I chew gum for too long or eat something where my mouth really has to work. I have to cut an apple into slices to eat it because biting into it will make my jaw lock. Going to the dentist is a sure way to give me pain...especially when they give me a bite block to hold my mouth open...it seems like it holds it open at an odd angle.

The first time I was in braces, my jaw would lock several times a day...I'd basically have to lightly punch myself in the face to unlock it. The second time I was in braces, I didn't have as much of a problem.

My orthodontist made a night guard for me out of soft rubber so I wouldn't grind my teeth as much. I chew right through it because it has the tendency to stimulate chewing (it reminds me of gum). I am using a different orthodontist right now because I was not happy with my previous one...she is making a new nightguard and a day guard for me that she says will act as a retainer and will also cut my grinding down.

The majority of the time I do not experience pain from my jaws.

[Clattercote]

I have TMJ too, but let me caution you to not self-diagnose because there might be underlying things causing the TMJ. To be sure, teeth grinding is one cause, but there are others, and especially if the onset was quite recent I would highly recommend getting it checked out if possible. I developed it in connection with some neurological pain and had to see an neurologist as well as a physical therapist who works with TMJ patients.

[mb1197]

I also have TMJ and often times it can be quite painful. My jaw cracks when eating and sometimes when I'm kissing DH which makes him think he is hurting me or something. During times when it is really acting up I find it hard to take large bites of anything and really struggle just to eat a sandwhich. I have not been able to afford a night guard yet unfortunately, but it is on my list of priorities.

[miaclear]

My TMJ used to be REALLY bad, my mouth would lock open sometimes. It still pops and I can't open my mouth all the way without adjusting my jaw to the side but it doesn't hurt anymore and hasn't locked in years. My treatment....STAY away from chewy foods. Gum is just awful, stop chewing it. Things like steaks and tougher breads, I eat in moderation.

[njnewyearsbride]

bumping this up --

would a dentist be able to diagnose this?
i already ruled out my ears by a visit to my PCP yesterday
i'm 20 weeks pg though and i think i read somewhere that pregnancy can bring this on?
are x-rays used to diagnose???

thanks!

[designer]

Questions for those with nightguards....

1. what type of nightguard do you have? Is it soft rubber, hard plastic??

2. Did your dentist mold it to your teeth or did you buy something over the counter?

3. Is it comfortable to wear while sleeping?

I had one made by my dentist, but I have a hard time falling asleep with it in, since it's so uncomfortable....I'm wondering if that's normal?

[designer]

njnewyearsbride

I think a dentist or a chiro would be able to diagnose, I've seen both.
My chiro took x-rays of my jaw.

[shopaholic]

I am finally going to my oral surgeon on Wed. I think I made a thread a while back about possibly having TMJ. I got a referral in April to my oral surgeon but never really had "pain". My jaw would just click and pop especially when yawning. Sometimes it would lock when I tried to eat a thick sub or something. Ever since this past Friday though I am in a lot of pain. I am not sure what is going on but it feels like the tendons holding my jaw together are sore or being stretched too far. This pain is a first for me. I can barely eat because once I put the food in my mouth I can't bite down to break it (if I am eating a sandwich for example).

I had a 90 min. massage this past Wednesday and I think that might have triggered something. I was on my stomach (so my face was in that donut thing) for a good hour or so. When I went to flip I had to move my jaw because it was all contorted and smooshed in that face thing.

I've been taking anti-inflammatory pills (Advil) and I have a hot compress that I put on when I am laying down. This all seems to help a bit but its been 4 days now. Its almost like a non-stop process because once it starts feeling better I go to eat which aggravates it all over again!

[diam124]

This is weird - I know there was another TMJ thread that I posted in but this is the only one that comes up in the search.

Anyway, I've been having really bad TMJ pain the last day or so. It's my own fault because I've been chewing gum like crazy. I also was feeling around my ear yesterday to see where the pain was coming from and that seems to have made it worse as well. I've been taking Advil for it. Does anyone else have suggestions for pain relief?

[shopaholic]

I am now currently in physical therapy for my TMJ....fun times. Never thought it would have gotten this bad. Right now we are doing an ultrasound massage which actually is helping a bit (I've only had 2 sessions) and now I am working on "exercises" while at home.