TMJ Support Group

Hello all! I've had TMJ for years, but this past week, it flared up due to stress (clenching teeth at night). It popped out of place and won't pop back! My back teeth don't touch on one side, and I have pain on that same side. I can't open my mouth wide and can't chew!

Usually, I would just pop it back into place, but it won't even pop now. Any suggestions?

I went to the doctor, but since it wasn't too swollen anymore, they told me to take a large dosage of motrin and use warm compresses. I'm going to an ENT doctor soon.

So tired of eating soup!

I had a similar problem. Only one set of molars would touch. No other teeth in the front or back would touch. The only thing that my prosthedontist did was make a splint (mouth guard) for me that would allow my jaw muscles to relax. This did help relieve the muscle spasms. The best medication to take is Ibuprofen or a muscle relaxant. It is the muscles that are spasming due to the mis-alignment of your jaw that is causing some of the pain.

Good luck

Diane.

Thanks. Yeah, Dr gave me a muscle relaxer + ibuprophen. It was starting to get better, but then seems like I took 2 steps back. I'm going to buy a splint at a drug store, I guess.

Same thing with me as well. I had no idea what happened when all of a sudden I couldn't open my jaw wide or chew without blinding pain.

Almost a year later and it still hurts. I went to the dentist and he filed down the molars on the one side that they did touch and it actually helped a bit.

It still hurts everyday and i have to be careful what I eat. I think i've just resigned to the fact that i'll always have this pain - which i know isn't the most optimistic just realistic.