TMJ issue and question?
TMJ questions
I have been diagonosed with TMJ for about a month now of not a bit longer. I have had the usual symptoms of sore teeth, shooting pain or hot pinches and occasional headaches/ ear like infections but its not. Now i was wondering if this condition is for life or not. I have heard people say different things with some having different results. I hope i do not have this the rest of my life. Now one month into this and a bit more, i am having a bit less pain and sharp shooters and can open much wider. Is this a sign im healing? The only major difference right now is that the side thats offline to the left is bugging me like its poking out and the dentist said it was not a gum infection. So does anyone have answers for me?
I got the tmj from grinding/stress or one doc said open bite. However i believe that i accidently at the time was brushing and went too far up and heard a click and thats when it started along with the one month ago teeth tightness in the lower teeth.
Answers:
Its TMD or Temporo-Mandibular joint Disorder or Dysfunction as some doctors would say it. The bad news is that there are currently no cure so you only treat the symptoms, but the good news is that it always heals by itself. Like the common cold it has to run it's course. Unfortunately the course is between 3-10 years. Use a hot compress on the sore area, 15 minutes on 15 minutes off.
Tips:
1. Do not chew gum or hard candy - no. 1 suspected cause of TMD.
2. Don't prop your head with your arm on your lower jaw while thinking, studying, watching TV. Causes too much pressure on your Condile.
3. Avoid opening your mouth wide. If your yawning support it with your hands.
4. Avoid clenching your jaw. Consciously put your tongue between your teeth if you have to this will help you tremendously.
5. Get a Night Guard or a hard splint. it's gotta be hard soft splints tend to promote grinding.
8 year Orthodontic veteran and 3 years with TMD.
why does your breath stink in the morning?
TMJ is a longterm condition. Surgical intervention is possible, but they try conservative measures first, i.e., anti-inflammatories, ibuprofen, heat. They also recommend a dental splint if you would like to have one specially made or a football mouth guard particularly at night to prevent clenching or grinding teeth. An oral surgeon or ENT physician would be the best start with obtaining recommendations and treatment.
I have TMJ and it is a life long thing unless you have a surgery for it...it can be made worse by the things that you eat.excessive chewing such as gum and other chewy candies can make the pain of TMJ much worse. Advil def. helps the shooting pains that I have had with my jaw.
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