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TMJ - 7/9/2008 10:09:22 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 3518
Joined: 4/11/2005
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I think I have TMJ. But what I'm reading online is that there isn't a whole lot that can be done about it.
Anyone have experience with that?
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CW Underground
"In one century, we went from teaching Greek and Latin in lower schools to teaching remedial English in colleges."
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 12:13:39 PM
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csl7037
Posts: 912
Joined: 3/24/2008
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I have what I think is a relatively mild case of it - and it about drives me crazy sometimes. I really can't/shouldn't chew gum. When I avoid chewing gum, it's not too bad. The clicking in my jaw sometimes isn't too bad but I have a ringing in my right ear from time to time, especially in the morning, that just may drive me insane!!
I think unless it's really severe, there's not much that can be done - because I think the "treatment" is pretty severe.
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 12:41:46 PM
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Mrs.Wifey
Posts: 4786
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From: The Gorgeous plains of Colorado
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I suffered from it in Middle school and ended up having my upper palate expanded to make my bite align better. I also wear(or am supposed to wear) a night-guard. I haven't had any problems really, since having my palate expanded. While it was the most painful 6-8 months of my life it was entirely worth it!
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Ryanne
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 3:14:43 PM
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pumpkin
Posts: 1362
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From: home
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I have TMJ, and have known about it for about 15 or so years now. My jaw locked closed once, and it took several months of not being able to chew anything (!!!!) and having my specialist pry open (or try to) my jaw every week for those few months to get it back to "normal" or as close as I'll get to it.
My jaw still doesn't open as far as most adults, and when I go to the dentist I can't even open it wide enough for the child sized thingy that they put in to keep your mouth open. I does open though, and I can chew, and I'm extremely grateful for this. =)
I avoid chewing gum, but I love it... so once in a while I give in. I normally regret this.
I avoid biting into things that are overly thick, cause they almost always cause issues.
I avoid having my mouth closed when my head tips back, cause that'll also lock it.
I avoid overly chewy items... but again, I love them, and on occassion I give in, and regret it.
Basically, it tries to lock, I freak out, then I try to calm myself down, and take some pain killer, and do some "jaw stretch" type of things that my specialist told me to do to help loosen it. Usually that does the trick.
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 3:22:48 PM
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stellaluna
Posts: 3518
Joined: 4/11/2005
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Well, that sounds scary!
My symptoms started about two years ago. I was eating a chip at work when I felt a sharp shooting pain go through the right side of my face--where the jaw moves up and down. Then for several hours I could tell my jaw wasn't going back in the right place.
The same thing happened about a year later, while I was talking to a co-worker. I can't believe how painful it is! But that time my jaw felt out of whack until the next day.
Then on Sunday, I noticed it hurt to chew when I was having breakfast and both sides of my jaw hurt. I thought maybe I clenched my teeth in my sleep, even though I've never done that before. By the afternoon, my jaw was out of place and it stayed like that until Monday night. Not really painful--just uncomfortable. I went to bed with a hot pack on the right side of my face and that seemed to help.
I need to make a dentist appointment, so I can ask him about it, but from what I'm reading there isn't anything to do about it unless it's super super severe. Whatever I have going on obviously isn't severe, but I can't find any other explanation besides TMJ. I guess it could be something else. I've never been a tooth grinder or anything like that.
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CW Underground
"In one century, we went from teaching Greek and Latin in lower schools to teaching remedial English in colleges."
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 3:45:00 PM
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spdrgrl.603
Posts: 69
Joined: 6/16/2008
From: Dallas, Texas originally
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how do you get TMJ?
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 4:13:52 PM
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phosadaud
Posts: 9064
Joined: 9/19/2005
From: Washington State
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I have TMJ. It's actually not something you get - but rather the result of something else. For most people, it comes from clenching their jaw and/or grinding their teeth and is often related to stress. I first had problems in high school. I didn't grind my teeth, and my dentist thought what was happening was related to my singing. I was taking private vocal lessons and I have a very small mouth. He believes the teacher was pushing me so hard to open wider and wider when I sing, that I was actually hyper-extending my jaw. That's what was causing the pain. Once I stopped the lessons, the pain and popping went away.
This past year, it has come back. This time, it's purely from stress - there is a really bad situation that has been ongoing at work and I find myself clenching my teeth together. Overtime, this caused the pain to come back as well as the funny sounds, popping and pain on chewing and such.
It's not hopeless though. There are things you can do to help no matter how severe it is. First, find out what the cause is. Is your jaw or teeth misaligned causing bite problems? Are you grinding your teeth (this usually happens at night while you sleep so it's hard to catch sometimes)? Are you "over-using" your jaw muscles for whatever reason (maybe you live off of beef jerky). Once you know the cause, you can better know how to treat it. Your dentist is a great resource for this. If it gets severe enough, it can damage your teeth, cause sores in your mouth, etc, so don't ignore it.
Either way, take ibuprofen to help with the pain and swelling (although not long-term). If it's tension related, get to know your heating pad  . The heat will help relax the muscles and such. (ice feels good too sometimes depending on the cause - find out what works best for you). Avoid "heavy chewing" - foods that are tough or chewy. Limit gum chewing. Avoid opening your mouth wide as much as you can.
If it's really bad, they can fit you with special orthontic appliances.
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~Kristin~
Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as Gods. Cats have never forgotten this.
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 4:36:02 PM
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spdrgrl.603
Posts: 69
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From: Dallas, Texas originally
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i grind my teeth a lot.... i had no idea that it could maybe lead to TMJ. i also have an over bite and every now and then my lower jaw locks up and makes a crack sound when it goes back in place....
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 5:09:52 PM
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pumpkin
Posts: 1362
Joined: 4/1/2005
From: home
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*sigh*
I probably need to go back to wearing one as well.
We never thought that I was grinding my teeth or clenching them until I fell asleep on the couch, and my mom happened to be curious if I did anything like that, and watched me while I slept. She said it wasn't a lot, but that I did seem to be grinding my teeth or something. I know I also clench.
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 5:13:14 PM
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Mrs.Wifey
Posts: 4786
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From: The Gorgeous plains of Colorado
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I found that having hard candy in my mouth all the time helped break the cycle. Or you can go the cheap route and buy one of the night guards from Walmart or Target. I still have problems with clenching and grinding, but my TMJ seems to be fine after having my bite corrected.
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Ryanne
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 5:16:44 PM
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pumpkin
Posts: 1362
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I realize you may have been talking to someone else... but I thought I'd answer anyway. =)
I know I need the actual "brace" made at the dentist/specialist. I have tried over the counter type ones before, and I "spit" them out in the night. I need something specifically made for me, and the over the counter ones are too big for my mouth too.
Plus, they wanted to give me a "stiff" one, not the really pliable ones... because I tend to 'chew' on them in the night.
Candy is just a bad idea for me. I have bad teeth/don't want more cavities/don't like artifical sweeteners.
I usually can just concentrate on not clenching, and keeping "distance" between the upper and lower teeth, and that helps. I just have been having issues lately anyway.
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 6:41:39 PM
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Focusing
Posts: 5339
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
I think I have TMJ. But what I'm reading online is that there isn't a whole lot that can be done about it.
Anyone have experience with that?
Ouch!! Yes. It was one of the causes of the migraines I was getting (4-5 a week). Went to a chiropractor about eight years ago, and within six weeks - gone! I have had three migraines in the past eight years.
I am a huge believer in natural cures vs. taking meds to mask the pain (and cause other issues).
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RE: TMJ - 7/9/2008 10:21:09 PM
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pumpkin
Posts: 1362
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From: home
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I always thought I was just clenching... but when I had that soft guard in my mouth, it just seemed to make me want to chew on it. So, that didn't really help much in that regard. =) It did last me quite a while, but I would rather pay for the permanent one, and not keep paying to replace the soft one.
At the time, I was relieved that I was given the soft one. I didn't like the idea of wearing one 23 hrs a day. I was a little freaked out by that. I thought I would look weird and I didn't want that. Now, I'm thinking that they could probably make one that most people wouldn't even notice.
I think a lot of my problem comes from my teeth shifting. I've had some teeth pulled in the back, and my teeth have shifted, and don't align properly anymore... and so that makes things bad for me.
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RE: TMJ - 7/10/2008 12:16:27 AM
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womaninchrist
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The place that treats my TMJ (one of the few places doing a lot of TMJ research) said that there's a ton of causes but that stress-related habits do figure into many of them. They also said that many people find the cheapie mouth guards from the sports section of stores like WalMart effective that they try them first before having the patient endure (and pay for) a custom mouth guard. Plus in addition to dietary changes (mostly to stuff easy to chew) there are things like jaw, neck and even shoulder exercises/stretches that help. And it often takes the concurrent use of cold or heat and an anti-inflammatory. But the help isn't overnight or instant like taking aspirin or ibuprofen for a headache. They warned me to "expect it to take weeks to months for full improvement and that there's always a possibility of relapse, particularly if the bad habits aren't corrected". All that said, while I miss some foods and I'm not a hugfan of wearing a mouthguard at night, I can honestly say that I have felt notable improvement in just 6 weeks.
Oh, and they think mine is partially from how I carry my jaw (a stress thing) and partially a long term effect of all the stuff done long ago with my braces (jaw alignment, lots of pulled teeth, etc.).
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RE: TMJ - 7/10/2008 11:21:19 AM
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cherish405
Posts: 30298
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Australia
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I clench and grind my teeth. I was getting a lot of headaches and earaches, and had no idea that it had anything to do with my jaws. I have a night guard too. Not the most comfortable, but it helps.
I don't chew gum either. A bad idea when you have TMJ.
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I broke the habit for awhile by wearing a night guard during the day, the special dentist fitted kind that cost an arm and a leg. I probably need to go back to wearing one 
