I've had a clicky jaw on/off for a while infact years.
This past week however it's become sore round the left side lower jaw and near ear.
It clicks as soon as I open my mouth and when I shut it,if I open my mouth quite wide its painful.:( I'm currently taking Nurofen for the pain it does feel like Neuralgia.
I went to the dr's earlier and he laughed and said it was a dental problem? I had to book in with a dentist who may operate? and something about bridging?:eek:
Can someone help and offer advice,I have a phobia of dentists and have stayed well away for many years (yes my own fault but I hate the word nevermind walking into the place) but will do if needs be.
I have read something about TMJ? I think it is.
Any advice going?:confused:
Sounds like TMJ. A cranio sacral therapist would be a good person to see.
Just something to try 1) stroke the side of your face with two fingertips downwards from your temples, near your ears, down to the sides of your jaws, to your neck - you want to encourage your lower jaw to relax. This may take some of the stress away.
Then 2) cradle your jaw in both hands, resting your fingertips on your temples. Open and shut your mouth. Does it move to the left or right? You can also pick up on this by putting your middle fingertips just in front of the middle of your ear (you can press quite hard). Try to GENTLY guide it so that it moves centrally. But you really should be looking after your teeth!
You could also think about why this has come about? Do you hold your head to one side, so that the muscles near the jaw joint are of uneven length? Have you got a sore tooth and you chew on one side of the mouth only?
Poor dental health is often associated with heart disease - something to do with bacteria. And some early dental prevental work can avoid bigger problems.
So you really should deal with your phobia. 2 suggestions - make sure your dentist is aware of this - there are so many people with this problem that many dentists are very good with phobic clients, and will be very sympathetic. My dentist specialises in phobic people.
The other is to look into www.emofree.com - a free, simple, and self administered technique which could help you let that phobia go .
Hope that's helpful,
Kind regards,
Sharon
I was diagnosed with TMJ a very long time ago and what you've described sounds very similar to what I experienced. My jaw used to sometimes lock, it was very clicky and very painful. I think it was my dentist who referred me to an orthodontist who gave me some simple jaw exercises to do and I had to avoid biting into apples and instead cut them into smaller pieces and I was told not to eat things like french bread i.e. anything big and chewy! oh and chewing gum is a definite no no.
One of the most common causes of TMJ is stress so by finding ways of coping with my 'stressors' as well as I could and doing the simple jaw exercises my symptoms slowly subsided. I think I was also given a gum shield to wear at night as well which helped but I no longer need this.
Be brave and visit your dentist, explain your symptoms and hopefully your jaw will be on the road to recovery in no time.
Both previous posts give good advice, Bethy.
You can also check the movement by using a mirror and watching your jaw move.
I have worked on this type of problem and it can be helped by releasing tight muscles around the TM joint itself and also in the neck. Vertebrae C1 and C2 (Atlas and Axis - the top two) can also be involved and if you get headaches almost certainly are.
When you do exercises do not use too much force as this can just tighten the muscles even more. Isometric style exercise is often very effective in easing muscle stress - if you send me an e-mail (@spineworks.co.uk">ian.jarvis@spineworks.co.uk ) I can send you some guidelines.
And, finally, remember that if you have had this problem for a long time it may take quite a while to heal it permanently.
hope that is useful
love
ian
Thank you everyone.
I shall be booking into a dentist next week.
I do need work when I last went which was nearly 2 years ago I needed 2 teeth extracted and 2 fillings (1 of which I had done) But scared them soo much and me I felt embarrassed afterwards he was mid filling and I jumped up he lost half of his tools :rolleyes::o they flew all over the place.
So I do need work doing,I will get it sorted.Thank you everyone for your advice and tips 🙂
I've been going through the same scenario, and was diagnosed with TMJ strain about 4 years ago. It has become progressively more uncomfortable, and some foods are impossible to eat, as I cannot open my jaw wide enough. It also clicks and clunks - my kids say I'm the only person they know who can make soup sound noisy! I had to go for a bone scan (breast cancer followup) last October, and was told that the radioactive isotope had pooled in my TMJ which indicates some level of arthritis, and all I can do is control the situation. I take ibuprofen if it gets uncomforable. If only the condition would actually stop me eating - bit extreme, but it might help me drop a stone or two!!!