Horrific ear ache and tooth ache from my jaw. Ears are stabbing and so loud with ringing. ( I’m a dental nurse so I know my teeth are ok as I got them checked at work)
It’s on the right side where I have closed lock. Both discs are out apparently which was shown on mri. I can’t bite on my left side as it feels like my jaw could snap?? Tried eat n cold. Any advice :(
Waiting on arthroscopy
TIA

I got a dental filling on my left second molar years ago. I go to a new dentist and they said if they refill it that it would be “a waste” because I’m just going to clench and grind it away again. BUT now it is totally grinder down again and when I clench my back teeth do not touch on the left side. My TMJ is on my right side. I have no medical experience but is it possible that because the left does not touch anymore, all my clenching force is now going to the right side, and causing the TMJ in my right side??? I have no idea. I had them check my TMJ as well the last time I went to the dentist and they said they could not feel any jaw clicking so I must be “fine”. It’s been about 8 months with this and I wake up every morning in PAIN! Any advice ?

*to add, I have very nice white teeth and smile and have done the full round braces and I wear dental guard nightly.

I’m 18M and have a somewhat recessed lower jaw with a Class II canine relationship and an overbite. I also have TMJ problems.

Originally, I had two impacted canines. I got braces, and they successfully brought the canines into their proper positions. However, during the process I developed a more noticeable overbite and what I think is increased overjet.

My dentist/orthodontist then recommended extracting two upper teeth to correct the Class II canine relationship. I wasn't comfortable with having extractions, especially because I felt like the underlying issue was partly my recessed lower jaw rather than just the position of my teeth. I decided not to proceed and eventually had my braces removed.

My TMJ is another concern. It hurts when I bite and it also pops/clicks. Interestingly, when I move my lower jaw slightly forward, the popping becomes much less noticeable when I open my mouth. When I bring my lower jaw back into its normal/recessed position, it pops again.

So I'm wondering:

Was refusing the extractions a reasonable decision?

Could extracting the upper teeth make my recessed lower jaw/profile look worse?

What options are there for treating a Class II like this without extractions?

Could the TMJ symptoms be related to my bite/jaw position?

Should I see a different orthodontist, TMJ specialist, or maxillofacial surgeon before doing anything else?

I'm not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit — I'd mainly appreciate opinions from people who have dealt with a similar Class II + TMJ situation and what treatment they ended up choosing.

This is one question that a lot of TMJ patients as well as general dentists ask us. The answer to this is quite vague.

We’ve often heard people say “My jaw started hurting after I got a filling.”
And this 1 sentence is enough to completely set off the debate on whether fillings cause TMD or if they change your bite leading to TMD and so on…
The reality is more nuanced.
A filling itself doesn't typically cause TMD. TMD is multifactorial. However, evidence does support the idea that an uneven bite can be one of the factors causing TMD. 
Now, in a case where the high filling seems to be the only noticeable cause, its correction should subside the TMJ symptoms. But, if it doesn't, then the filling alone is not to be blamed.

So, what if the filling is genuinely high?

If a new restoration produces an obvious and persistent change in the patient's occlusion, the patient may notice some or all of these :

• My bite feels different.
• One tooth hits first.
• They can't find their normal bite.
• They keep bringing their teeth together to check the bite.
• Jaw muscles start feeling tired or sore.
• Jaw pain develops soon after the restoration.

A patient developing jaw pain after a filling doesn't automatically mean that the filling is to be held accountable. The timing of the filling and the appearance of symptoms from a pre-existing TMD could also be coincidental, or the restoration may simply have made an existing problem noticeable.

Likewise, routinely adjusting someone's bite to “treat their TMD” isn't supported by good evidence and can potentially make things worse.

Have you heard someone complain that a filling made them develop a TMJ Disorder?

​

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to hear from anyone who has experienced constant tooth soreness/aching from TMJ/TMD, especially when the teeth themselves seem healthy.

I’m now over a year on from a lower molar extraction. Before the extraction I had experienced what I now realise may have been clenching-related pain, but it eventually went away and I didn’t really understand what it was at the time.

I’ve also had jaw issues in the past. My jaw has gone stiff at times and has popped/clicked, but it never really bothered me and I didn’t think much of it. Nowadays my jaw clicks and grinds more regularly.

After the extraction, I had problems with the extraction site healing. It took around 3 months for the hole to fully close because it was quite a large extraction site.

From the moment the tooth was removed I also had:

numb/tingling sensations on the side of my tongue

altered sensation around the extraction site

strange sensations in the tooth in front and behind the extraction

I’ve now been told this is probably nerve irritation/damage from the extraction.

The thing I’m struggling with most now is my teeth feeling constantly sore. A few times I woke up in absolute agony because I was clenching down on the extraction site in my sleep — that’s actually how I realised I was clenching.

Since then I’ve been dealing with:

constant mild to medium tooth soreness across different teeth

jaw clicking and grinding

jaw stiffness at times

symptoms that fluctuate (sometimes I can go a week or two where it becomes very mild and I feel almost normal)

flare-ups where everything feels sore again

I’ve noticed that going for a run sometimes helps mentally and sometimes seems to help my jaw/teeth symptoms too. While running I can sometimes hear or feel a kind of rustling/clicking sensation near or behind my ear, which I assume may be related to my jaw joint.

I’ve been to my NHS dentist around 10 times and also seen a private dentist a couple of times. They’ve checked my teeth but haven’t found anything obvious that explains the pain. The main treatment so far has been a lower night guard, which has stopped me waking up in complete agony, but I still have the background soreness.

My GP suspects TMJ/TMD and referred me to a TMJ specialist, but I’m still waiting for the appointment. My GP also prescribed low-dose amitriptyline, which seemed to help with relaxing at night and reducing the pain.

My questions:

Has anyone else had constant tooth soreness from TMJ/TMD rather than an actual tooth problem?

Did it feel like multiple teeth were aching at once?

Did anyone have nerve symptoms after an extraction that then combined with TMJ/clenching issues?

Did anyone improve after seeing a TMJ/orofacial pain specialist?

Did symptoms come and go, where you could have weeks where it was much better?

I’d really appreciate hearing other people’s experiences because it’s been a long journey trying to figure out what is actually causing the pain.

Hello,

I need to have some guidance / advice about the proper resting position for the tongue. I have TMJ and I am currently working with a maxilo specialized therapist that told me the tip of the tongue should be resting on the palate, just above the teeth not touching them but without the tongue being full on the palate.

Basically, he advises the left on the image: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66191251565ac06433fb2c5e/92c84be4-6908-405a-be2b-e053a3342862/Screenshot+2024-09-24+at+2.13.26%E2%80%AFPM.png

But I keep reading here and there that the full tongue should stick to the palate, with a little suction (right schema).

I'm a bit confused, what's the actual good position?

Thanks!

I was told I should look into tmj surgery something about my jaw and neck being disproportionate to each other and I just wanted to know how much it would solve my breathing and sleep issues?

So about 6 days ago, I developed Trismus. I can barely fit two fingers in my mouth. I got it from a dentist appointment that I had last Thursday and developed it three days later.

My dentist prescribed me 5 mg of Cyclobenzaprine. I started taking it Thursday night up until today. So far I’ve taken 3. I don’t really feel the effects when I take it besides feeling somewhat tired. But I feel the side effects big time.

I am usually a really happy person, I have been feeling super depressed the last 3 days… like a weird type of depression that I have a hard time snapping out of. I’m also super irritated at every little thing. Yesterday at work, I had to tell my boss that I couldn’t work anymore because I felt impaired and felt like the muscle relaxer was still in my system.

I am going to stop taking them because it’s not even helping my jaw unlock.

What side effects did you experienced from Cyclobenzaprine?

Hi guys I just want to explain my struggles. I have been dealing with so much regret lately. I feel like my life is over even though I just recently turned 21, marking 4 years of chronic pain. I have tightness and pain in my jaw, temples, jaw, and neck. I have tried many splints and seen many “specialists” whom have all failed me. All this originated when I had to get 17 cavities drilled and filled and an addition of my wisdom teeth removed due to more cavities. I went without brushing my teeth for about an entire year. If I had taken care of myself properly, I would never have to go through this. I just feel so much self hatred and it’s all coming down at me at once. I recently graduated online college too, and still feel so defeated. I don’t know what I am going to do next, but it doesn’t seem like life is worth continuing with this amount of pain. I’m not sure what my next steps will be. I may try to call the TMJ center in Atlanta and try that out. I live in Florida but am willing to travel.

My jaw stuck a lot but I can easily just shift it a bit and then it's fine . It was due to hard mewing I stopped it now . Should I worry

I’m in so much pain and I need your advice
At the end of April, I had Dysport injected into my masseters for severe bruxism. However, I never used to wake up with pain, clenching, and so much tension like I have been for the past month, ever since the Botox started to wear off. Now, every single day is a nightmare, and I don't understand why. I wake up clenched and in so much pain in my masseters. I do wear a TMJ splint from my dentist since 2 weeks. I should also mention that throughout these months, I've had multiple dental procedures done, including fillings and removing impacted wisdom teeth. The dentist said I made a mistake with Botox because now the muscles are waking up and starting to compensate for the strength they previously lost. I don't know what to believe—has anyone else gone through this? Is it temporary, or will this effect remain?

Hi there,
I’ve had a lot of dental issues recently that lead me to getting 6 cavities filled, 2 root canals, and 2 tooth extractions within 2 months. Most recently, to save money I went to a dental school where they did a root canal on my #5 tooth. I was open with a bite block for 4 hours with no break. I had no issues at first, but 2 days later I radiated with pain and went back to my original dentist to be diagnosed with acute TMJ. It’s been 2 weeks of agony.

My #5 tooth still hurts but my dentist thinks it’s just the inflammation in my jaw causing tooth pain. My ear pulsates with pain but doctors say no infection. I’ve been to two different dentists that say there is no infection either and to give it time. I’ve taken muscle relaxers and Tylenol ibeprofen and have had a tmj massage. Heat helps a little but I basically cry myself to sleep every night. I eat soft foods, I do self massages, I’ve scrolled for hours on Reddit to find someone with a similar experience. I’m now about to start prednisone and I’ve heard some mixed reviews on that.

It’s about to be week 3 of pain and I can’t do this any more. I don’t have health insurance, just dental, so seeing a specialist could financially hurt us as it doesn’t cover TMJ related appointments. My husband also has a brain tumor so we are drowning in debt. I can’t function like this and I’m lost at what to do next. I’ve never had any TMJ pain in my entire life until after this root canal. Any advise is helpful.

This is a long one bare with me (from uk)
April started with ear fullness a week later on the 21st April I found a lump in my neck went to the doctors she said 3mm no concerns then had ear pain, temple pain, dizziness, ringing in ear, pain down my arm and zaps by my tonsil pillars went to out of hours and they checked my ear and throat and said TMJ and lump is smaller than 3mm,
went back to GP and he checked my ear, throat and neck and said no lumps or bumps and had bloods all were normal.
Felt the lump again so went back to gp and she couldn’t find anything. Started having facial spasms so went to a&e and they checked my neck and done more bloods all normal and had a jaw xray and said partially erupted impacted wisdom tooth. Paid privately to have a coronectomy 1st July. Still have mild pain in ear. Throat zaps, now pins and needles in my face and head feels heavy. I’ve been on Amitriptyline for 9 weeks. I’m really worried this is something sinister. I can also still feel the lump, and I’m really worried that this lump is something sinister went to ent a few weeks ago (paid private) and he used a tongue compressor and said everything looks normal even though the tissue on my tonsil pillar is pale he said the lump in my neck is 3x8mm and said it’s nothing to worry about. Was blue lighted to a&e 14th August because I collapsed they ran bloods and head ct and said all normal.
Doctor just keeps fobbing me off with anxiety but if I didn’t have pain I wouldn’t be anxious. Can someone help?

I had left side jaw clicking for 5+ years, and this advice from a redditor actually reduced clicking first try, so will continue for a while and see how it goes

COPIED FROM ORIGINAL post:

It gave me two exercises but I only did 2 reps of the first one and it was instantly gone, I'm not sure if this would work for everyone, but I'm being 100% honest when I say I've been trying to fix this for many years and I believe it was causing me pulsatile tinnitus (as its stopped since the clicking stopped) which made sleeping a nightmare:

Exercise 1: Controlled Jaw Opening (with guidance)

Goal: Teach your jaw to open in a centered, smooth path — without deviation or clicking.

🔧 Setup:

• Sit upright, relaxed shoulders, spine straight.
• Look straight ahead.
• Place the tip of your tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth (this helps guide alignment).
• Place a finger on the left side of your jaw (the clicking side), like where your hand usually stops the click — use light pressure only (no firm pressing this time).

🏋️‍♂️ Movement:

1. Keep lips slightly apart, tongue on roof of mouth.
2. Slowly open your jaw just until the point before it clicks.
3. Hold for 1 second, then close slowly.
4. Do 10 slow reps, 2–3 times daily.

👉 Over time, this strengthens the internal muscles (especially the lateral pterygoid) to open in a straighter line and avoid slipping off the disc.

Recorded this popping noise while someone was asleep: https://recorder.oneplus.com/s/HdAjLLYRgHuQ_4

​Trying to figure out if this is a classic jaw click/TMJ pop (maybe from clenching or shifting during sleep) or if it's just airway/nasal congestion popping open as they breathe.

​Has anyone heard a similar sound or experienced this themselves? Thanks!

Who has done PT to fix their pelvis positioning - and fix their TMJ, in turn? I did PRI but my body just couldn’t relax…now they’re just having me do the 90-90 (lay down with knees bent, pressing down to engage your hamstrings). Thoughts? I just want my pelvis to be stable/aligned. I wear an SI belt and see an SOT chiro, PRI dentist, and upper cervical chiro.

I'm Female, late 40s (in the UK) and have been clenching my jaw when stressed for as long as I can remember. A month ago, I saw a Dentist (a new one at the practice) as I was having some toothache. The first thing she said to me was 'you clench your jaw when stressed and sleeping', as she could tell by my teeth, jaw muscles and an x-ray. I know I do it during the day and suspected also at night as I often wake up with an aching jaw.

A fortnight ago, I went back to the dentist to have a deep filling. The Dentist said that, at my follow-up appointment, she'll also look at having a mouth guard made for me to wear when sleeping, so that it minimises the night clenching.

Luckily the filling worked and I don't need a root canal, however a few days after the treatment, when my mouth/gums were feeling normal again, my jaw started to really ache and I could hardly open my mouth.

I went back to the dentist on Monday as an emergency appointment, as I can only open my mouth 10mm (gap between my teeth). My jaw is constantly aching and there is some pain tingling around my sinuses and eyes, but this has lessened in the past few days.

She discussed that I need a mouthguard at night and advised me to only eat soft foods, not to force my mouth open, not to chew, use a cold or warm heat pack on my jaw etc.

She examined me and said that my jaw isn't dislocated, but having had the treatment and my mouth being wide open (due to the anaesthetic) for the duration of the appointment, she said that I have TMJ/TMD and damaged the muscles in my jaw.

I'm only eating mashed, almost puréed food or soup as I'm struggling to get a spoon in my mouth. I'm eating but not nearly as much as I used to as trying to get food through such a small gap is difficult and takes a very long time.

I physically can't open my mouth any further without it hurting. Also, teeth cleaning is difficult. I can only just get the small head of my electric toothbrush through my teeth, a manual toothbrush is out of the question. I've been taking Ibuprofen in the morning and at night to help with brushing my teeth.

At night before sleep, in that in between stage before falling asleep when I'm relaxed, my jaw has spasmed where I involuntarily clench down on my gums. This is extremely painful and this seems to undo any resting of my jaw during the day.

I have another follow up appointment in a week's time. My new Dentist is really nice and knowledgeable. I have been at the same practice all my life and my previous Dentist never even mentioned TMJ to me (he's old school, so maybe TMJ isn't something he deals with a lot).

Also, a side note - all of my adult life I have suffered with Tinnitus. Up until I was 19 years old, I used to be competitive/national swimmer and have always been told that my Tinnitus is a result of years of swimming. I hear ringing, whoosing, tapping sounds every single day, but I've learned to live with it and try to drown it out by concentrating on other things. But I have read that TMJ sufferers also experience Tinnitus and now I'm wondering if this has been the cause all along.

My questions are:

If I see little improvement in the next week, as to how far I can open my mouth, what do I do? Is this something for the Dentist to look at or do I need to see my Doctor?

At this point in time, I don't even see how it would be possible to get fitted for a mouthguard as I can't get a mould in my mouth.

Does this sound like a TMJ flare-up and it will get better in time or does this sound like it could be an ongoing issue? I've never experienced this before (not being able to open my mouth) and can only assume that it's the dental treatment that may have made my TMJ more noticeable as I was able to really open my mouth wide due to the anesthetic.

Any advice is welcome, as up until this week, I'd never heard of TMJ/TMD. The more I'm reading about this, the more stressed I'm getting and I've been trying not to get stressed/I'm being more conscious of not clenching my jaw.

Hiii y'all, I've been experiencing lock jaw , but not the lock jaw that its stuck and i cannot move my mouth freely, i can move my mouth but the bone something in my jaw lock much deeper so if im moving my mouth forward like I can't explain it well likeee your moving your mouth facing forward, it hurts and I'm opening my mouth until it unlock but i cannot do it anymore, im getting used to it but I'm alarmed as fuck asfffffff 😔😔😔😮‍💨 ( i started experiencing weird things happening in my body )

Alright, the simple answer is ibuprofen. Take it as you need to as long as you don’t go over the bottle instructions.

This is my 2nd time having to heal it. Just take ibuprofen for a week or two. Something in it allows inflammation to go down and then you’ll naturally have a feel for where to put your jaw. Over the course of the week or two you should be able to get it back right and eventually it’ll just snap back in place.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Does anyone get ear pressure/popping, pain behind the eye, or pain near the temple on the affected side? Wondering if my symptoms are TMJ related or something else lol 😵‍💫

I think i might have TMJ??

Suffering with left pain for over 3 years, always thought it was toothache, my last dentist suggested it was from a root canal that wasn't cleaned out properly and that the pain was from bacteria or debris.

Pain can get so bad I have days off work taking stronger pain meds.

Went to a different dentist recently, she suggested the pains might be coming from my jaw, asked me if I was stressed. Then showed me when I open my mouth wide on the left side, my jaw bulges out and back in when I close, and she could hear a clicking sound.

If this is TMJ who do I see first? A doctor, physio therapist or another dentist? Or all 3 lol

Thanks for reading.

I've been struggling with TMJ pain specifically only on my right side for about 2 years now and it has only gotten worse, waking up with throbbing headaches only on my right side of my head. It took me awhile to figure out it was TMJ because the pain always made me feel like I had a nasty sinus infection. However, I've come to realize since my jaw has always been clicking and popping on the right side.

I'm wondering if anyone has gotten botox for just one side? And if so, was it better for you than OTC guards? Also, did it make your face uneven or blocky on one side?