2006-12-15 13:37:31 · 13 answers · asked by mouse_13_f 1 in Health ➔ Dental
TMJ, Tempo-mandibular jaw, is a condition where your jaw is slightly misaligned. It can be caused by several different things, including griding your teeth while you're asleep or swelling/oversized lymphatic tissues/muscles around your jaw.
Go see a doctor about this. It can cause dental and health problems, even earaches and toothaches. They'll either refer you to a dentist if this is neccessary (to perform dental work or even injections on either sides of your face to help reduce the swelling), or they'll reccomend an asprin regimen to help reduce the swelling on your face.
2006-12-15 13:49:33 · answer #1 · answered by Meredia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TMJD is short for temporomandibular joint disorder. This joint is where the mandible (lower jaw) fits into the base of the skull in the left and right infratemporal area (below the temples and in front of the ears). There is a small disc made mostly of rubbery connective tissue that cushions both sides of the lower jaw where it fits into your skull. When you clench and grind your teeth too much, the ligaments that hold this disc in place can detach from it. If this happens, the lower jaw moves forward and the little disc "pops" off of the lower jaw when you open, and back on when you close. Some people have popping on opening and closing, some on one or the other. In advanced TMJD a clicking sound can be heard. This often means bone-to-bone contact is taking place and the disc has come off of the bone or degenerated completely.
Only a dentist can determine the type of appliance you should be wearing between your teeth and when you need to wear it. Buying an over the counter guard can cause more harm than good. See your dentist or an orthodontist for an evaluation. I hope this helps.
2006-12-15 22:38:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably have TMJ, and you may be grinding your teeth when you sleep. A plastic dental guard that you wear at night will help.
Also, the more times you open and close your jaw during the day, the more times that joint must work. I went to a seminar at Kaiser Health on this. Try to avoid opening your mouth wide, like yawning and eating bites from apples. Also, stop chewing gum, which causes lots of joint movement.
I did those things, plus wore a mouth guard at night, and never suffered again from TMJ. A dentist can also help give advice, but that advice from Kaiser Health was very helpful to me.
2006-12-15 21:48:15 · answer #3 · answered by Woman from California 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you have(TMJ) Temporo mandibular joint disorder. Go to your dentist and they will make a special brace for your
mouth, which would be better than what you can buy in the store. insurance should pay for it. The dentist may ask you if you had an injury to your jaw because injury could cause TMJ.( jaws out of alignment)
2006-12-15 21:52:21 · answer #4 · answered by Monique 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why it does that but i don't think it is that uncommon. My boyfriend made fun of a woman non-stop for a year because she grind her jaw all the time. He use to imitate her alot. He did it so much that his jaw started to pop on its own when he ate. If it gets painful I would see a Dr. But until then I wouldn't worry about it.
2006-12-15 21:42:21 · answer #5 · answered by Megan D 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmm, that's happened to me a few times too. Just for a day or so my jaw will do that. I don't really know why it does it. But it's probably nothing to worry about, it might just be un-aligned or something. But mine always goes away after a little while.
2006-12-15 21:40:20 · answer #6 · answered by JAYM33 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have this too... it's kind of weird, but i don't think it's TMJ. TMJ is more painful and really causes some problems. plus, if you go to a dentist regularly, they'd tell you if you had TMJ. I just think it's because our jaw isn't lined up. and maybe that we should tell our dentist.
2006-12-15 21:47:30 · answer #7 · answered by cuteazndude84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother had this and they told him it was TMJ/grinding his teeth too and that wearing a mouth guard at night would help to stop it, you can buy them at places like walmart for around 20 dollars in the aisle where like floss and tooth paste are. I would also call and ask your dentist.
2006-12-15 21:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by ehrlich 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be TMJ which means that you are either grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep. You can ask your dentist to check it out next time you go.
2006-12-15 21:42:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say you have tmj, get to a dentist asap if this has just started then you probably have caught it early, which is why you are not in pain
2006-12-15 22:05:23 · answer #10 · answered by Larissa D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋