Ouch my jaw...?!
Question: I have a tmj disorder,And the other day i kinda got mad and i clenched my jaw and went to open it to say something and it mad a weirdish noise,and it hurt,and its been sore ever since.I can shut and open my mouth just fine but when i clench my teeth together it hurts,...The earliest i can see a doc is wednesday,any idea what i did?
Answers: I have a tmj disorder,And the other day i kinda got mad and i clenched my jaw and went to open it to say something and it mad a weirdish noise,and it hurt,and its been sore ever since.I can shut and open my mouth just fine but when i clench my teeth together it hurts,...The earliest i can see a doc is wednesday,any idea what i did?
The lateral pterygoid is a muscle that helps attach the jaw to the skull. It helps you open your mouth and move your jaw from side to side. It is one of the muscles of mastication (eating, chewing). There are different types of dysfunction at the temperomandibular joint all of which can be quite painful. It is possible the muscle is inflamed or the joint may have been strained (injury where the muscle attaches to bone by a tendon).
The rule for a new injury is RICE. Rest--Ice--Compression--Elevation. You really should rest your jaw. Try to relax and not talk very much. Don't eat foods that require a lot of chewing. Use an icepack or cool pack on it several times a day. Compression?? not sure for this one:) Keep your head elevated above the rest of your body (usually not too hard to do).
Generally, after about 48 hours, you can use heat for relief if you choose. If you follow your jaw bone toward your head until the bone angles up, then move straight up until your fingers fit into a small indention, you can gently massage part of the lateral pterygoid. Massage in a circular motion in front of the ear.
You can temporarily use a pain reliever (Aleve--"Naproxen" is my favorite), but you must use it wisely. Remember that the pain is there for a reason. If you reduce the pain and continue to stress your jaw, the damage will increase. You really don't want that to happen. Take it easy.
you may have TMJ disorder ...easily fixed by a chiropractor
you probably have been putting heavy tension on your jaw muscles which connect to the tmj. you've always had a tmj disorder and it doesnt take that much to get it out of whack like a clenching episode. the muscle/tendon is probably tender because of heavy tension on it. give it seven to ten days. use a heat pack, take motrin, and maybe even a night guard and it will be better.
dr. charles.
well for starters, try not to clench your teeth. Maybe pick up a night guard or mouth gard (check the toothpaste aisle and sporting goods) to help with that. Also, take some advil or alieve. you have irritated the nerves in your teeth, so when you bite down or clench you are just irritating them more. I have the same problem. It will go away but you have to be careful not to re-injure those nerves. If you feel yourself starting to clench, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. it will prevent you from clenching and start to relax a bit.
Mine used to be so bad, I couldn't move my mouth very far. I couldn't bring my teeth together and it wouldn't open more then maybe an inch.
use motrin