My right side of my jaw joint is painful to open my mouth?!
Question: My right side of my jaw joint is painful to open my mouth?
I sat at my computer trying to work but mostly online looking things up to ease the issue.
I sat with my palm on my chin and notice that it pushes my jaw BACKWARDS and because I was doing that for practically two days, now my jaw really hurts there... And it's been 2 days since that. It feels like it doesn't want to open all the way without pain. It's like it's tight.
Do I just need to give it time to go away? Did I totally screw up my jaw sitting at my computer depressed??
Answers:
Sounds like you may have temporarily caused the articular disk in the TM joint to become anteriorly displaced. By resting your chin on your hand the way you did, your jaw joint got pushed back and forced the disk to pop forward. If you never had any clicking and popping of your jaws, then in time the disk should just pop back into place on its own. Wearing a special splint will probably allow the disk to go back into joint easier and faster but it will probably do it on its own if you had no prior history of TMJ problems. In the meantime, try to keep your teeth APART as much as possible and not together (about 1-2 inches will do). When your jaws are apart (keep your lips together), the joint space is made larger and makes spontaneous reduction (going back in to joint) more favorably. Also do not eat any foods that require a lot of chewing (tough meats, salads, etc), and do not chew gum. Use moist heat on the right side of the face for 45-60 minutes as often as possible to help relax the muscles that open and close the mouth. This will facilitate the disk going back into place. You will know that the disk is back in place when you can comfortably open more than 3 fingers wide between the front teeth but do not go experimenting because you may overstress the muscles and worsen your condition. Wait a few weeks before seeing how wide you are able to open and do not strain yourself. At the slightest discomfort, stop. In the future, do not rest your chin on your hands anymore.
functional orthodontist; treated TMJ since 1984
You might just strain the muscle around the TMJ a little. (see TMJ here:
http://orthodontics.net/tmj.php ). Just take it easy by not open your mouth too wide, have some soft food, no hard food or candies, no chewing gum for few days. You can massage the affected side in front of your ear gently also. Hope this help.