Jaw popping and clicking- what can be done for it?

[CathrynRose]

So, I pop.

I pop too!

Occasionally - OCCASIONALLY, Ive bit wrong, or yawned or soemthing that it REALLY hurts until I kinda jiggle my jaw and snap it back into place.... only happened a couple times, though.

 

[Feralpeg]

Tell her not to chew gum, ice or any kind of hard or sticky candy until it feels better. Heat applied helps some. No matter how much it feels like she needs it popped, she should try not to do so. It sounds like the jaw has pushed off the little pad that it normally rests upon. This can happen for many reasons. In your DD's case, it was probably from hitting her jaw. Over time, it could get better on its own, but not if she keeps irritating it. If it is a very severe case, she may need a night-guard or even surgery. I've had TMJ for years, but it has greatly improved. Now I only notice it when I am really stressed and start clenching my jaws.

I hope she is feeling better soon!

 

[JoBird]

I totally agree with Feralpeg. Please tell your daughter not to "force" her jaw into any position. It only causes it to get worse. Tmd (Tempromandibular disorder...NOT TMJ, which is the Tempromandibular joint itself) can be caused from a number of things ranging from an accident to the jaw, to grinding or clenching the teeth at night to a more serious disorder of the joint never forming correctely in the womb.

I have had TMD for 20 years. It was so bad 4 years ago that my jaw was in a locked position for over a year. I couldn't eat anything that was larger than the width of my index finger, because that was how big I could open my mouth. I went to 2 different chiropacters who tried to "force" my jaw into place. It was excrutiating. What they failed to realize was that they were making it worse. If they had done x-rays, they would have seen that my jaw on the left side is almost non-existant.

I finally went to see a specialist in the dental field. He fitted me with an appliance that was worn 24 hours a day, including eating and sleeping. I had to eat a soft diet and drank a lot of protein shakes during that time. After 6 months I was fitted with another appliance for nighttime use that goes over my top two teeth. I can now open my mouth wider than 4 fingers together.

I can honestly say that this Dentist saved my life. I had already told my Husband that I couldn't live another day in the pain I was in.

I'm sorry this is long, but feel it my duty to let people know that you don't have to have surgery to fix the problem. That is only reserved for the most serious issues, and if I can be helped, I know most people can.

Please find a dentist in your area that ia associated with the Academy of Pain Management, the American Board of Craniofacial pain and the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

PM me if you have further questions, I'd be happy to help others out.

Jo

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I'm sorry this is long, but feel it my duty to let people know that you don't have to have surgery to fix the problem. That is only reserved for the most serious issues, and if I can be helped, I know most people can.

Please find a dentist in your area that ia associated with the Academy of Pain Management, the American Board of Craniofacial pain and the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

ITA! DS saw a specialized dentist in pain management. TMD is what we both have (though TMJ is what I wrote). And it should be covered under health insurance. You can start with your own dentist if you need to. My regular dentist treated me, DS went to the specialist.

 

[luvflorida]

Thanks everyone for all the info. My daughter isn't really a gum chewer and rarely eats hard candy, so I don't have to worry about that. I told her, after reading some of the replies, not to force the jaw in or out of place. She has complained lately about headaches now and then, and I see where some of you have mentioned headaches along with the jaw problem.

She was just lying on her stomach on the floor of her bedroom doing homework, and she said she can feel it more when resting her chin on her hands. Other than that, it hasn't bothered her too much today.

I'll definitely be calling the dentist on Monday. We're leaving for a two week vacation this Thursday, so I don't know if there will be an opening before we leave.