TMJ or something more?!

TMJ or something more?

Years ago, I was diagnosed with TMJ, but have only had minor problems with it such as headaches and occasionally my jaw sticks when I yawn. About 10 days ago, I started having some pain in the upper left part of my mouth/jaw area. I have a wisdom tooth that has a corner broken off that I have been putting off doing anything for until I can afford it, so my first thoughts were that there was something wrong with it. Well, I can touch the tooth and the area around it without any pain, but when I press on the jaw joint in the back of my mouth from the inside, there is considerable soreness and I can also feel it on the outside just in front of my earlobe. I've had minor pain in the right jaw area and even going down into my lower jaw line. Any suggestions or thoughts on what this might be. I haven't had a fever, but I was wondering if it might be an abscessed tooth, a gum problem, or if it's just the worst my TMJ has ever been. Please share advice with me.

Could be both. An infected tooth may not be giving you tons of pain currently but could grow worse and it could be causing pressure up around the sinus area. But these symptoms sound mainly like TMJ symptoms. The popping in your jaw is the bones rubbing together. The longer they rub together the worse things will get. The abrasion of the bones will cause more pain. A TMJ specialist can make splints and things to help hold the TMJ joint at the right angle at night or even sometimes during the day depending on when they want you to wear the splint. This is expensive though. If you are clenching or grinding you teeth a regular dentist could make you a cheaper splint/mouth guard. TMJ symptoms are usually agravated by people clenching and grinding their teeth during their sleep but you may notice yourself doing this during the day also. Your dentist can make a night guard that will put the pressure and abrasion on the guard instead of your teeth and less pressure on TMJ. For an even cheaper option, try an OTC nightguard. Usually these can be found near the floss at a store. They are more bulky than the one the dentist will make you but you only need to wear a bottom tray, you can use sharp scissors or a knife to trip the edges if they poke and then use a lighter to flame the are back smooth. Some guards have the option of boiling and then you put them in your mouth to help form fit them. Just be sure to use your fingers to press the tray against your teeth, keep a bowl of water to dip your fingers in before pressing on the tray b/c it will be hot, and do not bite on it b/c you need that part to hold you open a little.