Jaw Acting Up (TMJ?)

Charles Kinbote

So just now I am sitting watching a movie and I realize that not only does my jaw feel like it is under some level of stress but the actual TMJ joint (repetitive, I know) aches a bit and I can hardly move my jaw without it popping.

It may be because TMJ has been brought up in my circle of friends lately (about a week ago) and my small hypochondriac nature is showing through, but I am a little nervous. I bite my nails, which I have been trying to stop because I understand that that influences it. What else can I do to prevent it? I sometimes see people massaging their joints - does that help? It's a little hard to sort through all the bullshit on the internet.

OremLK

Is it just an ache? What makes you think it's under stress?

My jaw aches a lot; seems to happen to me instead of a headache. I just take a couple of Advil and it goes away.

musanman

I've had jaw clicking for some time. Sometimes it's sore and gives me a headache...sometimes it's so minor I don't notice it unless I try to make it click.

I went to my orthodontist and he gave me some pointers, and explained what is happening. Here are some things you can try:

1) Go about 2 weeks without eating anything chewy. Give it a break.
2) Don't chew gum ever. (I've stopped this and it's totally easy)
3) Don't bite your nails. I have always done this and when I managed to quit it did ease the clicking a bit...but I am biting them again and it's not that big of a factor.
4) Some people say caffeine can influence it, but I haven't tried that one long term.
5) Fill a rag with hot water and hold it to your jaw for about 20 minutes a couple times a day.

Personal: My orthodontist had me take 4 advil, 3 times a day. This much ibuprofin reduces swelling, so if it was muscular the idea would be that it would really help with the above tips. It worked pretty amazingly, but you shouldn't do this for any long amount of time. It's bad for your stomach if you aren't eating much and it really is bad for you when you want to have some beer.

Both my orthodontist and dentist have said they have had jaw clicking at points in their life, and almost EVERYBODY does at least some time during their life. I'm used to it...but if it's really painful you should talk to somebody.

LavaKnight

My jaw used to pop until I realized that it stopped when I bit with a slight overbite. I'm not sure if that was just the structure of my jaw or what, but it has seemingly stopped the issue without real downside.

grungebox

I noted this in a TMJ thread a few weeks ago on here, but make sure not to open your jaw too wide. Significant TMJ issues can cause you to easily dislocate your jaw, which hurts like hell (and the whole not being able to eat or drink thing also sucks).

Charles Kinbote

My jaw is always able to click if I put it into strange positions, it's just especially clicky today, as well as being sore.

I am going to stop nail-biting, for sure. I also recently quit smoking, if that has anything to do with anything.

It seems to feel better when I am eating things, which is strange.

This has only been going since last night, so I am going to wait a few days to see if it gets better on its own. I think I'm coming down with something and it is allergy season, so there could be other causes. My jaw just feels a little strange - like its sitting differently, although it is closing in the same manner it always has (by which I mean the teeth are coming together normally, which I don't think they were this morning).