My jaw hurts... I'm only 14?!


Question:

My jaw hurts... I'm only 14?

so my jaw has been hurting for three days now. It's like tension in my jaw on the left side, the right side is fine. I'm not having head aches or anything... it's just my jaw. I'm not stressed and I don't grit my teeth. it hurts when I chew, open my mouth or yawn... and now it's getting more uncomfortable to talk.
if you have an idea of what it could be... what can I do about it?
I'm ONLY 14!!! serious answers only please

Additional Details

1 month ago
I have braces


Answers:

sounds to me exactly like TMJ, the tempro-mandibular joint is where mandible (the lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. A small disc of cartilage separates the bones, much like in the knee joint, so that the mandible may slide easily; each time you chew you move it. But you also move it every time you talk and each time you swallow (every three minutes or so). It is, therefore, one of the most frequently used of all joints of the body and one of the most complex.
You can locate this joint by putting your finger on the triangular structure in front of your ear. Then move your finger just slightly forward and press firmly while you open your jaw all the way and shut it. The motion you feel is the TMJ. You can also feel the joint motion in your ear canal.

These maneuvers can cause considerable discomfort to a patient who is having TMJ trouble, and physicians use these maneuvers with patients for diagnosis.


TMJ can be caused by trauma, disease, wear due to aging, or habits.
Trauma: Trauma is divided to microtrauma and macrotrauma. Microtrauma is internal, such as bruxism (grinding the teeth) and clenching (jaw tightening). This continual hammering on the temporomandibular joint can change the alignment of the teeth. Muscle involvement causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the joint. Teeth grinding (bruxism) and clenching are habits that may be diagnosed in people who complain of pain in the temporomandibular joint or have facial pain that includes the muscles involved in chewing (myofascial pain). Macrotrauma, such as a punch to the jaw or impact in an accident, can break the jawbone or damage the disc.
Bruxism: Teeth grinding as a habit can result in muscle spasm and inflammatory reactions, thus causing the initial pain. Changes in the normal stimuli or height of the teeth, misalignment of the teeth, and changes in the chewing muscles may cause temporomandibular joint changes. Generally, someone who has a habit of grinding his or her teeth will do so mostly during sleep. In some cases, the grinding may be so loud that it disturbs others.
Clenching: Someone who clenches continually bites on things while awake. This might be chewing gum, a pen or pencil, or fingernails. The constant pounding on the joint causes the pain. Stress is often blamed for tension in the jaw, leading to a clenched jaw.
Osteoarthritis: Like other joints in the body, the jaw joint is prone to have arthritic changes. These changes are sometimes caused by breakdown of the joint (degeneration) or normal aging. Degenerative joint disease causes a slow progressive loss of cartilage and formation of new bone at the surface of the joint. Cartilage destruction is a result of several mechanical and biological factors rather than a single entity. Its prevalence increases with repetitive microtrauma or macrotrauma, as well as with normal aging. Immunologic and inflammatory diseases contribute to the progress of the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation. As it progresses, the disease can cause destruction of cartilage and erode bone, deforming joints. It is an autoimmune disease involving the antibody factor against immunoglobulin G (IgG). Chronic rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with a persistent symmetric joint involvement. Certain infectious diseases may be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

When to Seek Medical Care
Occasional pain in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is common and may not be a cause for concern. See a doctor if your pain is severe or if it does not go away. Treatment for TMJ should begin when it is in early stages. The doctor can explain the functioning of the joints and how to avoid any action or habit (eg, chewing gum) that might aggravate the joint or facial pain.

TMJ Treatment

Self-Care at Home
Many people, more women than men, have TMJ. However, the full TMJ disorder develops in only a few. Most of the symptoms disappear in 2 weeks because your jaw joint rests and recovers when you are unable to chew.

Anti-inflammatory pain medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Aleve) may ease the pain of TMJ.


Eat a diet of soft foods.


Apply warm compresses on the area of pain. Home therapy includes mandible (lower jaw) movements, such as opening and closing the jaw from side to side. Try this after a warm compress is applied for 20 minutes. The lower jaw movements should be repeated 3-5 times a day, 5 minutes continuously each time, for about 2-4 weeks.

dont worry so much you wil be fine




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