My doctor told me I have TMJ. Which is the muscles tighten when I chew gum and grind me teeth on chew on my cheeks. Well I dont have the money to keep going to the doctor for medicine. But my jaws hurt and my ears hurt so bad. So i was wondering if anyone has this problem and if they know of anything i can do to help with the pain besides kick the habit in the butt. thanks.
2007-03-06 12:28:14 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
I purchased Night Gaurd tonite at walmart and just read the label and it says for people with TMJ do not use it.
2007-03-06 12:42:51 · update #1
I am a dental assistant and the doctor I work for specializes in TMJ. The only thing that will help is a muscle relaxation splint which can be given to you by some dentist. DON'T let a dentist go grinding on your teeth just yet. That is usually the second phase in TMJ therapy. First, here are a few things you can do to help yourself until you get to the right dentist.:
1. soft diet
2. NO gum
3. Nothing that takes a lot of chewing (steak)
4. Avoid caffeine--this is a muscle stimulant and can stimulate muscles in the face, which will irritate these muscles which are already sore.
Some dentist may want to put you in a night guard which is a softer mouth piece, but this won't help in the long run. A true TMJ splint is a hard mouthpiece that you wear 24 hours a day except to eat and it needs to be adjusted once a week to start because your jaw muscles will begin to relax and your jaw may somewhat shift. By adjusting the splint it allows the muscles to continue to relax and find a place that is comfortable for the jaw to be. This treatment usually takes 4-6 months. Then you will slowly take yourself off the splint during the day and wear it only at night.
2007-03-06 13:31:42 · answer #1 · answered by j girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My stepmom has a problem grinding her teeth at night, and she wears a mouth guard (which can be bought over-the-counter now, but used to have to be prescribed).
I think I have TMJ, as well, but it's not so bad that it constantly hurts, like yours does.
The only thing I've ever done to alleviate pain for myself is to take Advil whenever my mouth started hurting. Not only is it a pain reliever, but it's also an anti-inflammatory.
Hope you find what you need to help the pain! :)
2007-03-06 12:42:47 · answer #2 · answered by Jenn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i haven't been diagnosed, but i have the same problem. i am only 20 and i have dealt with this for years. my mom has it two. i have tried the night guards and nothing seems to help. one thing that i have noticed is that being stressed makes it worse. but, stressed or not i have to stretch my jaw muscles every morning. take the other persons advice of not chewing gum...don't use the muscles when you dont' have to...let em rest.
it got so bad at one point that i couldn't close my mouth all the way...i just had to take ibuprofen for that. the only thing i have been able to do is try not to get too stressed out. there is no medication for this, and i wish i could help you more.
2007-03-06 19:03:34 · answer #3 · answered by simple 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for nighttime, especially when you are sleeping you can get a mouth guard made for people with TMJ, etc. The only thing I can think fo for during the day, is to take Ibuporfen. Take care.
2007-03-06 12:36:11 · answer #4 · answered by SAK 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go see your dentist. He or she will fit you for a bite splint. First they might file down some of your teeth (this is painless) for a better bite. You also might try massaging your jaw and taking an OTC pain reliever.
2007-03-06 12:37:50 · answer #5 · answered by margarita 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have this new thing out called jaw gaurd it helps to stop grinding your teeth it's over the counter and fairly cheap and work's great.
2007-03-06 12:32:28 · answer #6 · answered by loving U 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋