looking for advise on TMJ or teeth clinching

[Kajunswty]

I sure hope that someone can relate and give me some advice!! As of Feb this year my "new" dentist (I've switched dentists alot) advised me that I grind my teeth and he was surprised that I had never been diagnosed. Anyway, he made a mouth guard for me and it has helped tremendously. My jaw wasn't sore like I sometimes noticed when I woke up and my migraines have decreased as an unexpected bonus!

About a month ago I went in for a filling and since then my clinching problem has escalated. It took two appointments to do the filling because I was so worked up that I could hardly keep my mouth open. Even after the filling I was having severe pain on that side of my mouth. I was sure that I needed a root canal or something. All the while the dentist wasn’t so sure and wanted to work on my bite first. I have had numerous root canals that he thinks may have been unnecessary. I admire that he doesn’t want to rush in but at the same time I have to get this figured out.

I am in severe pain when I try to eat / chew. It has gotten to where I am constantly keeping my teeth from touching. I had an emergency appointment on Friday to do some more adjusting. He fixed my bite so that my back teeth do not touch. Mostly so we could figure out if it was that tooth that was causing me problems. The dentist tells me that I am having spasms in my jaw muscles.

He told me to wear the night guard all the time to relieve the pressure of me trying to keep my mouth open and maybe stop the spasms. By Saturday afternoon I had sores along my gum line from the darn mouth guard. I can't win for losing!!

So now, I am sure it isn't that tooth because as long as I don't eat it doesn't hurt. I've been drinking smoothies all weekend and I don't have any particular tooth bothering me. My whole face hurts!! My jaws, all of my teeth everything.....I feel like I am going to lose it if I can't figure out what is going on and fix it.

I have looked up TMJ and I fit the profile but my dentist seems to think the mouth guard is going to be able to fix it. Which would be fine if I only had the problem at night. But I don’t I find myself clinching / grinding pretty much all the time. I can’t see having to wear that stupid mouth piece all the time especially since I got blisters after only one day.

Anyone care to take a stab at this?? Thanks in advance! I feel better just getting this out. I wish I know someone who has TMJ but I figured some on the DIS could surely help

 

[Kitty 34]

Years ago I was diagnosed with TMJ. The dentist wanted me to take muscle relaxants. I did for a little while but they made me way too tired all the time.

The pain went away on it's own and now only once in awhile do I get that lovely sharp pain when I'm eating, esp my Doritoes!!

Good luck. Btw, I never had a mouth guard and I know I clinch my teeth at night!

 

[crz4mm2]

I have had TMJ for a long long time. Wore mouth guards years ago which really really helped. I have had braces in the past few years and now wear retainers at night that help with the clenching.
Mine was the worst when I was preparing to take CNM boards. Studying and worrying. THe day before I was to leave, I awoke with my jaw hanging slack and couldn't get my mouth shut.... I am sure the cartilage had slipped. I used Ibuprofen and relaxation and was able to eat again a few days lates. Don't use it any more than necessary and try not to open your mouth wide. I no longer bite into apples or take a large bite of anything.
It is miserable.
I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Desiree]

Hi there. I was just diagnosed with TMJ even though I knew I've had it for quite some time. My dentist is trying to avoid the surgery route, so we've just been trying a few things. I now try to make a consious effort to make sure I'm not clinching my teeth. I never realized how much I did it. When the TMJ flares up, I grab some motrin or advil. My dentist advised me not to get a mouth guard though, since I do grind my teeth and clinch them that the mouth guard would just cause me to unconsiously chew and grind when I'm sleeping. So far I haven't had near as much trouble with the TMJ. Oh he also advised me to not eat anything chewy (no caramels, licorice, gum, etc) and not to sleep on my stomach as it puts too much emphasis on my jaw and face when I'm sleeping. Anyways, I'm babbling, but I hope this can help you!

 

[Kajunswty]

Looks like the root my problem is stress. So the dentist says. He tells me to take a vacation....get away. Yeah right! If that were possible I'd live on an island somewhere drinking Pina Colada's

Since I'm not good at controlling my emotions this isn't going to be easy. One good thing though, usually when I am nervous or anxious, I eat. Since that is not an option right now I 'll have to spend less time exercising....lol

Really thanks for the advise.....I just don't know what to do from here. The mouth guard thing won't work 24 hrs and besides living on Xanax (also a suggeston from Dentist) I don't know what else to do. Calgon.................

 

[Desiree]

I'm sorry you're under so much stress lately. I hope things get better for you. TMJ is a very painful thing. And add stress in, yikes. (((HUGS))) to you.

Where in Cajun Country are you from?

 

[Kajunswty]

Desiree,

Thanks for the hugs!

I'm not too far from you. I live in a little town near the New Orleans airport, Destrehan. I've been known to take a drive down the I-10 to visit the Mall of Louisiana and the Tanger outlet.

I've got a consultation with our orthodontist on Tuesday. I'm sure he'll tell me he can fix my problem. Maybe I should take up yoga instead (ha ha).

have a great rest of the weekend, Jon

 

[jenelise]

I have had TMJ for as long as I can remember! I gave up chewing gum and raw bagels years ago. I take a muscle relaxer before I go to the dentist for fillings or even cleanings.

My chiropractor once showed me some slow neck and jaw stretching exercises that seem to help. Basically, if your symptoms worsen when you are under stress, then you need to relieve the stress - even if you can't take a vacation. Take a long hot shower before bed if you are at home. During the day, try to sneak off into a quiet room, play some relaxing music.

The following exercises you can do while sitting at your desk at work. Slowly shrug your shoulders, then roll them forward and then backwards circles. Then relax your neck muscles by slowly turning your head to the right then left three times. Then put your ears to your shoulders three times, alternating shoulders. Then alternate putting your chin to your chest and tilting your head back three times. None of this should hurt - always stop before you feel any pain!

Now very slowly open and close your mouth several times. Then slowly rotate your lower jaw around in a clockwise circle, then counterclockwise. Only open it as far as comfortable - don't open it so wide as to make it hurt or lock open. Again, all of this should be relaxing, not painful.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Desiree]

Hey don't knock yoga, it may work well for you with the relaxation!!!

I know Destrehan! Neat! Always nice to "meet" another diser from the area. Good luck with your ortho appointment on Tuesday and keep us posted on what he says.

 

[Kajunswty]

Wow, thanks Jenelise for the exercise tips. My chiro would be upset that I didn't think of him. matter of fact I might take a ride over there today.

Desiree,
I didn't mean it like that.....I just don't know if I could find the time to do yoga. But hey if it helps I might have to make time. I think the library has a class.....hummm.

Thanks so much!! I hope everyone has a great day, Jon

 

[Kajunswty]

hi all.
Just checking back in to say I am doing much better. The dentist has adjusted my bite twice now and I have a new mouth guard.

I am able to eat again!! I don't know how much longer I was gonna make it on banana's and peanut butter. I still can't eat anything that requires alot of chewing but I am making progress

Thanks so much for the advise and support!

 

[Desiree]

I'm so glad that you're feeling better. Sounds like this guy knew what he was doing!

 

[miste76]

I'm glad that you're feeling better. It sounds like your dentist is on the right track when he says you need to relax. I'm a student (2 years away from being a dentist myself) and I know that I clench my teeth when I get stressed. Wait, I'm always stressed!!! lol
Anyways, when you find yourself clenching your teeth, relaxation exercises can help. Take some time to count to ten and breathe deeply... concentrating on not clenching...

 

[Lynn CC]

I think you have two different problems. Don't worry, so do a lot of people including myself.
I wear a mouth guard (which if made correctly doesn't give blisters) at night for grinding. I grind so much at night my enamel was coming off my teeth). He charged me $440 for this guard and it fits on the top teeth, it's clear. Is this what you have?

The TMJ is a separate fix,mine doesn't bother me that much so I never did anything about it. My Mom went to a TMJ specialist and she wore a different kind of guard (at night)and it took care of her problem.
{hugs} I don't blame you for not wanting to wear the guard during the day, that suggestion doesn't sound right to me, I'd get another opinion.

I just read your update! Sounds Great!!

 

[T16GEM]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=588515

here is a link to a thread I marked as a favourite a while ago. I have been suffering with a bad jaw for years now, but if you read the thread you will see that my problems were eventually brought to a head by a visit to the dentist for a filling.

There are some excercises that the dentist gave me to do and I carry them out everyday and I am measuring some improvement, my jaw no longer clicks anyway! I am now extremely nervous about visiting the dentist again!!