Costco

Anyone else have TMJ or that jaw ratcheting sound? It usually happens when I laugh really loud or while I'm eating something hard. Its gotten worse over the years, I think I've had it for about 2 years. Sometimes it will be a slight popping that will happen for a good 30 secondsor so while I'm chewing, and at worse it will be a violent clap that will leave my jaw slightly tender for a while. I've read scary stories of peoples' jaws completely locking up and not being able to move, requiring surgery.

Anyway I can prevent or remedy this?

Dan Martin

I had complete reconstructive surgery on my TMJ about 8 years ago. It fixed my limited range of motion. but I still have a large deviation, tons of clicking/grinding, and some pain occasionally. Prior to the surgery, I wasn't able to eat a sub without squishing it flat, because I could only open my mouth about 15mm (just over 1/2"). Now, I don't have that problem, but my TMJ is still far from perfect.

Before the surgery, I had cortisone injections that would help with the pain, but it didn't do much for my range of motion. Since my surgery, I have tried a bunch more techniques to help, including a bite guard that I wear at night that prevents me from clenching my teeth while I sleep. Frankly, none of the remedies really do much for me.

I think a TMJ disorder is kind of like having a bad knee. You can rebuild the joint, but it's still going to suck. The surgery is also brutal to recover from. Not only is it very painful, but it will be over a month before you can eat anything. I had to eat meal replacement shakes at every meal, and I still lost 25% of my body weight.

My best advice is to just live with it. If it acts up and starts to hurt one day, take some Tylenol and move on. Maybe one day they'll have better solution, but nothing on the market today seems to do much.

drdamian

i agree with everything he said. There is really no remedy for a TMJ/TMD disorder. There is surgery bt it usually isn't that good and the results are sketchy. try to take it easy your mouth. It will progressively get worse as you get older.
Do you grind your teeth or clench? especially at night.? do you wake up with headaches ever? might want to ask your dentist to make you a bite guard so it takes some of the pressure off. Also, if it gets bad don't take Tylenol. It is better to take an ibuprofen like advil or motrin due to its anti inflamatory properties.

savage

interesting, i sorta get something like this from time to time...

Usually because i end up falling asleep on my face. If i put an arm under my head i am fine, but if i pass out with a lot of weight on my face i sometimes wake up with my jaw feeling all screwy. Eventually it goes away, but ever so often i get a sound when i am chewing, no pain though...

Is this something i should get checked out? Who should I mention it to? My doctor? Dentist? Specialist?

drdamian

i probably wouldn't get it looked at unless it was a normal occurance or if it hurts consistantly. other than that, please dont fall asleep on your face.. I have elderly patients coming to my office in tears bc their jaw is so jacked up.

savage

i am more worried about issues in the future... but it also happens only on the left side... the right is fine...

drdamian

usually everyone has some sort of grinding sound when they open or move their mouth. Its bad when you hear a popping or cliking noise. I have patients that have these problems but report no problems. I am uncertain about the long term effects. Where your jaw meets your skull there is a biconcave disc. that is where the TMJ is located. i would say to take it easy on the area. you can seek a doctor, but they are most likely gonna want to sell you at the least a mouth guard. if they recommed surgery, look for another opinion.

ILLustriousUA6

iTrader: (2)

wow. i feel that too, sometimes. esp when i wake up.. I move my jaw around, and i hear a loud click.. i feel as if my jaw is dislocated or something. I move around my jaw and it moves around. usually it's when i sleep on the right side of my jaw. really weird.. kinda hurts, too.

This sounds scary, lol. Locking up, wow,, how does that work?

stogie1020

My right side has been "locked" with very good range of motion since I was about 16, and doesn't even click/pop anymore. The left side pops when I open more than 25%, but then opens. Sucks, but since it doesn't hurt, I am avoiding any surgical remedies. I get some discomfort if I chew allot of gum, or eat a bagel, etc. but it usually goes away after an hour or so.

Just out of curiosity, did you have braces or a retainer? I had both, and I think they were a little "off" in their final alignment of my closed bite. As a result, when I clench my teeth in my sleep, I think I have to pull my lower mandible "back" (in toward my spine) a fraction of an inch, and this stress may be causing the TMJ. Oh well, whaddayagonnado?

drdamian

basically where the lower jaw meets the skull there is a biconcave disc that cushions the movement. sometimes during opening the jaw slips off the disc that is what the popping and clicking is coming from. when the jaw locks open it is becuase the jaw cannot translocate itself back on the disc. definentely as your doctor to make you a bite guard for when you sleep, that way there will be no way for your jaw to pull backward.

stogie1020

Truthfully, it doesn't bother me at all, so I am leary of doing anything that might make it worse or even different. 15 years and no change, so I may leave it alone.

Costco

^Doubt it will ever heal itself though.... 15 years and its still been there. Has it gotten any better? I guess it is ok to stay on the safe side. Never had braces or a retainer.

I just heard about it. Lockjaw was exactly what it was called, when you can't open your mouth very much or even completely close it. I've started to sleep on my back instead of my side now.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Wow, can't believe no one made the...

NO comment. j/k

phipark

I've got a problem too, but not as severe as needing surgery luckily. I developed mine by chewing gum 8 hours per day in high school. Needless to say, I swore off gum. However, I will sometimes grind my teeth in my sleep.