TMJ inflammation and jaw clicking/popping

Oral and dental care
1

Hi all,

I've been suffering tmj/bruxism my entire life (started when I was around 6 or 7 years old), i'm 30 now. It started off as grinding my teeth while sleeping, but over the last 10 years it has changed into clenching at night.

For the last 1/2 years I have had Invisalign to fix my crooked teeth and also to protect against damaging the teeth.

6 months ago I have had the worst stress I have ever experienced in my life. My dentist found a large cyst in my jaw that was growing off a horizontally impacted wisdom tooth in my jaw. I had immediate surgery under GA to remove it, plus the other horizontally impacted wisdom tooth on the other side.

After the surgery I had a number of complications including infections on both sides requiring 2 more surgeries under GA. I was also on antibiotics for months.

On top of this I got married inbetween the surgeries. Then after this I developed Viral Labyrinthitis.

I am now finally over all of that, but I have noticed recently due to all of the stress I have been getting a lot of inflammation in my face (puffiness) and also tight massater muscles. I have tried heat therapy and also massaging my face, i've also been seeing a TMJ physio.

The inflammation seems to have been going down with the help of trying to reduce stress and also taking Magnesium.

However, I have now noticed now that in the mornings my jaw seems to 'shift back' and it is tight until I shift it forward and I hear a pop. Then I notice when I open my mouth wide / chew it clicks.

I also notice on / off pain in my mandible towards my chin (my assumption is i'm clenching towards the front teeth). I also have very tight / strained neck muscles on the back and sides. I also seem to have on / off pain under my chin for some reason? The ENT I saw for my Labyrinthitis told me my lymph nodes are not enlarged.

Wondering what your thoughts are on all of this? Just as I feel like I am getting better, then something else crops up.

Anthony.

 

2

My gosh Anthony could you add any more stress to your life? You do have a handful. And congradulations on your marriage.

You don't mention if you wear a mouth guard. Since you have suffered from TMJ for so many years I would think that it would be in your arsenal. It is quite posssible that the surgeries changed the alignment of your teeth and you need to be fitted or refitted for a new mouth guard. (I'm saying this as I sit here wearing mine. LOL)

My TMJ specialist told me that it can cause all kinds of pain and the ones you mentioned are just a very few of the ones he mentioned. I would head right to your local TMJ specialist ASAP.

I hope things in your life calm down too. You need that more than anything. Because if your like me you will slow down on your tooth grinding at night when your stress level slows down.

3

Thanks for your reply.

I do have my invisalign braces that I wear 22+ hours a day which protect my teeth.

I am going to see the dentist today, it feels as though my jaw is a little dislocated (i have no pain) but it doesnt feel like its in the right position.

Going to get an xray done and see what they find.

 

4

I hope they find something to help you.

5

Thanks.

6

I'm wondering if it is possible to tear/sprain a ligament in your jaw?

Ever since opening my mouth very wideley (to improve trismus) i notice that on the right side it is very tight and feels like it needs to be 'cracked'.