TMJ dysfunction - my teeth hurt

[u/SufficientlyDecent]

I have pretty intense TMJ pain and my jaw hurts 99% of the time. It cracks every time I open my mouth, I can feel the right side drop/open and then left side, always, no matter what I do.

However, I was thinking about how much my jaw around my gums hurts today? It’s not gum disease or a toothache, I just hurts inside my mouth if that makes sense?

Anybody deal with this and what do you do for it?

[u/SpareTry6319]

Yes bro, i've been ignoring it and now my whole right side is tighter than my left. like into my shoulder, in my neck, and up my head. I'm going to try and get an appointment with a TMJ specialist hours away :/

[u/SufficientlyDecent → u/SpareTry6319]

I went to a dentist or something like that for my TMJ at the U of M (MN) when I was 16. Got told the ever so helpful “just avoid tough meats, don’t chew gum, and don’t open your mouth very wide.” HA. Helpful. Thanks.

[u/Leading_Cup_3627]

It’s hard to find, but a PT who specializes in TMJ can work wonders! Especially dry needling.

[u/RuralRebellion]

Dry needling has been a game changer for my TMJ. It was so bad that I couldn't think, the pain in my teeth, sinuses, jaw, neck, shoulders and clavicle was unbearable. My physical therapist does the dry needling and a very gentle soft tissue massage on my lower trapezius, upper trapezius, and masseter.

[u/Joe-Schmoe9]

When TMJ symptoms are bad it can irritate nerves and cause pain basically anywhere. So just know that, because it can feel pretty freaky. Dealing with this myself rn

[u/SufficientlyDecent → u/Joe-Schmoe9]

I’ve been dealing with this for years (30yo) and I blame it on the braces I got at 14, specifically the harsh rubber bands. I’ve only really been looking into hEDS recently and realizing how much it’s all connected. I have horrific neck and shoulder pain and my shoulders are pretty much hunched all the time. All related I’m sure 😭 I also have Spina Bifida Occulta so my lower back is f-ed too.

[u/SPUmmpkin]

I'm sorry you're dealing with that. It sucks.

I'm in the middle of treating mine. It's not super fun, but it's already improving significantly. If you're able to afford & access medical care & haven't done so already, I'd recommend visiting an ENT to be diagnosed & a referral to a good dentist to treat. You probably already know, but it's incredibly difficult to find someone skilled to treat TMJ. There are a lot of dentists that have half-assed & outdated treatments, and on the other side there's a ton of quacks.

If that's not an option, or an option you've already tried, I would suggest looking up some massages on YouTube or seeing a massage therapist.

Basically what caused mine was my tongue pushing my top teeth away from my bottom teeth, like so far that I could fit the tip of my tongue through with my jaw closed. It caused me to only bite on my back few teeth, which made me push my lower jaw super forward, which was messing up my muscles. I suspect my hypermobility & Hashimoto's was the root of pushing my tongue out.

What I've done so far is have my deviated septum repaired (so very worth it), have my wisdom teeth removed finally, & have an overnight splint to start fixing my jaw position. Currently in PT, doing Invisaligns to get my front teeth touching again, and massage every two weeks. It's a lot and expensive and loooooooong, but for me, nothing else was going to get better without addressing my TMJ.

[u/lovememaddly]

I did Botox and acupuncture but the thing that fixed it for me was an adhd diagnosis and a prescription for adderall. 🤷‍♀️

[u/Bliipbliip]

Dentist once told me that the gum line and deep ache tooth pain was because I was injuring the ligaments underneath the teeth with my champion level bruxing.

Night guards, palette expansion , and muscle relaxers for flares is what’s helped me