A jaw problem?

Question

For the last few days, the left side of my jaw has been extremely painful (in a sharp muscle-ache sort of way) whenever I open my mouth beyond a centimeter or two or move my jaw forward. I feel like if I open it quickly something bad is going to happen--pop, or snap, or something.

I'm a student in finals, so I can't visit a dentist. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Sounds like it might be TMJ, though you couldn't say for sure without going to see a specialist.

Your TMJ is the joint that attaches the jaw to the skull. When you grind your teeth or hold your jaw tight it creates stress on the joint causing pain. The muscles in your cheeks can also have stress put on them through this.

Since you're in finals and can't see a dentist: Try putting heat on the muscles in your cheek and ice on the joint. Don't chew gum, chew ice or drink soda. You should eat soft foods and try to keep your jaw as relaxed as possible. Don't rest your chin on your hand and avoid extreme jaw movements.

Some people (including dentists) may recommend that you purchase "The Doctor's Nightguard" or other do-it-yourself night guards. I did this and when I finally got to a specialist he was adament that the homemade nightguard could actually make the problem worse.

TMJ is a serious issue and you're going to want to get this checked out ASAP. So you know, most dentists don't deal with TMJ so if you have it you will have to find a specialist. Also a heads up: In some states insurance does not cover TMJ treatment unless it was caused by a hit to the face (ex: car accident). Dental insurance says that it's a medical problem and medical insurance says that it's a dental problem.

Check out WebMD for more info:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/66/79637.htm

Answer 2

You have classic symptoms of temporomandibular (TM) disorder, Common symptoms include: joint pain when the jaw is moving, as when opening the mouth widely, chewing, or yawning. Such pain can develop:
Usually on one side of the jaw, but can develop on both sides.
Either gradually or suddenly, as when biting down on something hard or following a blow to the jaw.
Muscle pain or tenderness in the face, ear, head, neck, or shoulders.
Headaches. In children with TM disorders, these are often related to grinding the teeth.
Clicking, popping, cracking, or grating that is painful and occurs when opening the jaw. Clicking or popping noises without pain are common and do not require treatment.
The jaw locking in an open or closed position or not opening wide (disc displacement). If the jaw locks for more than a few moments, a muscle spasm usually follows.
I would take something like tylenol or ibuprofen to relax your jaw until you can see your dentist. You are under a lot of stress with finals and it could be the cause.

Answer 3

I'm no expert but my girl friends jaw pops all the time and she says it hurts like hell. My mom also used to have the problem. It might be something called TMJ. I don't know any specifics but your symptoms sounds familiar. A possible problem that you might not even know you have is that you grind your teeth at night while you sleep. this usually leads to the problems with your jaw and waking up with headaches on occasion. If any of this sounds familiar about the only thing you can do is go to the pharmacy section at wal-mart and pick up what's called a bite guard and wear it at night while you sleep. Then when you can go to a dentist about it. Take it easy when you eat too. Don't chew gum or anything that's hard to chew and take small bites.

Answer 4

Sound likes TMJ to me. Do you have these symptoms:
Ear pain
Sore jaw muscles
Temple/cheek pain
Jaw popping/clicking
Locking of the jaw
Difficulty in opening the mouth fully
Frequent head/neck aches

Another thing it could be is grinding your teeth at night while you sleep. I do this when I am under a lot of stress.

Answer 5

O, finally someone else to be paranoid with. I have complained about my jaw since I was a child. I have something called TMJ where it unhinges and gets stuck on the side. If you do end up opening your mouth at an odd angle, it will "pop" over the joint and you won't be able to get it closed. I'm very paranoid about the "bad occurences" as well, so don't feel alone. Talk to your dentist and/or orthodontist about it. They might need to perform surgery by putting in pads on the joints or breaking it *awake, with numbing* and reconstructing it.
Please talk to your dental specialist. It is imperative that it is looked at. Otherwise, something "bad" might actually happen. Trust me...

Answer 6

This seems like a problem with your Temporomandibular joint. If the pain doesn't go away in a day or so, you should see your dentist first. He can recommend a TMJ specialist if there's something that needs to be done. See the Wikipedia article below on TMJ. I know your in finals but your health is more important. Your school will understand if you give them a doctor's note.

Answer 7

This happened to me a couple of months ago when I was under a lot of pressure and I think grinding my teeth a lot. Basically, I had to focus on dealing with the stress (which is easier said than done) and eat really soft foods for a week.

Not fun, but the eating soft foods was a big thing, and if you feel it pop while you're eating, don't eat that item!

Good luck with finals and the jaw

Answer 8

It may be TMJ. Take some OTC pain med, like Aleve, Motrin or Tylenol or what ever you normally take for minor pain. Put heat on it with a washcloth wet with hot tap water. Massage the area.

You may have been clenching your jaw while you are under stress from your finals. Avoid eating anything hard--apples, etc--or chewing gum. Let your jaw rest when possible.

Good luck on your finals.

Answer 9

I used to have a bad case of TMJ and now it pops maybe 5 times a year at most. I stopped chewing gum and ate less chewy foods (no well-done steak) for a long time and it just got better on it's own. Now I don't have as much of a problem. Also make sure you don't grind your teeth at night that could cause problems too.

Answer 10

Are you experiencing any tightness of muscles in other areas?
I read recently about tetanus ("lockjaw") and the symptoms are similar to what you describe.

People can die of tetanus. I'd suggest getting to your school's infrimary and letting the school's doc take a look. You can do it between classes or after a final exam. I happen to know those don't last all day long.