Teeth grinding - jaw clenching

Hi I have it, try running your fingers along your jawline and you may feel a tender spot just below ear level. You may be getting headaches too and facial neuralgia. Mine is tnj trichneuralgic jaw or some word similar. You can get a jaw brace that fits on your teeth to realign your jaw, in severe cases an operation us offered. See your GP ask fir maxofacial appt. Good luck

I know that I do this in times of stress although its something I dont really realise I am doing until the pain starts. I had a dental appointment and he said I am grinding my teeth at night and wanted to charge me 400 uk pounds for a tooth guard.  However I didnt really bother as I dont really think I am doing it at night because it appears I notice it in the daytime. I guess I try and focus my mind on other things and then I  notice I have stopped doing it.

 

Hi Paul; yes I have had a LOT of trouble with TMD related to my Fibro, and I did go down the track of buying a specially made splint/brace for my upper mouth.(under the guidance of a specialist for TMJ).  However, this is not now recommended for Fibro patients,  as it proceeded to give me more trouble this year (became ill fitting and then caused bad ulcerations and mis-aligned teeth).After all that happened this year, I started researching info on TMJ/TMD for Fibro patients, and found so much info on this regarding how "not to use splints/braces, and other things not to do regarding dental treatment as well, and all to do with the effects it has on our Fibro, and the related nerves.  Surgery of ANY kind is advised against as it takes many more months of excruiating pain, due to our Sensitive Nerves. 

  I feel that the best treatment and advice I received was from my Physio, who "adjusts" the Tempero-Mandibular Joint" and advised that I learn to place/hold my tongue in a Neutral position aligned with the bottom teeth (this is to take the weight off the upper jaw). It only took me a few days to attain this, and by doing so, it now just sits there day and night, and does not allow clenching (or grinding) of teeth. Our main problem, really, is the clenching (and not the grinding), as we need to use our facial muscles to clench, and this is where most of pain occurs..(although it does also cause tenderness around joint/s and the jaw line, but the specialist tells me the pain we feel on jaw-line is actually muscle pain as well).  ...I find that if I talk too much, Try to eat/chew solids foods, this causes pain in my facial muscles, and then need another dose of both Amitriptylline and a Brufen to take down the inflammed muscles of cheek area.  Another problem I found by not "looking after my TMJs" appropriately, was the Decreased ability to  open my mouth (I lost 2 cms in 6 months), so now have more trouble with what I can ingest. 

?Hoping this gives you a clearer opinion?  perhaps if you were to type in "TMJ/TMD and Fibro" you may find satisfying info, as did I?? I actually printed out all I could find, and took same to my dentist, who was really thankful, as it is not something that they are normally taught about in Dental Course, so he replied.  (even normal cleaning and fillings are more painful for us, and we are advised to  have More regular checkups/cleanings to ensure we Don't need extractions/Root Canal Treatments etc)...........................good luck...........Bron

I too have tmj. I was grinding (clenching) my teeth so bad that I actually cracked 12 of my teeth. I wound up with sores in my mouth cause I would bite down on my cheek at night. My mouth started clicking and was scared it was going to get stuck in position when I opened to eat.

I paid the 400 bucks for the night guard and haven't broken any teeth in 2 years. It was worth it as to fix all the teeth I cracked cost 2 grand.

I have TMJ. I wake up to crack my jaw on the Lt side for 4yrs now. Clenched at night. Get tension headaches. I find that I get them more depending on my jaw position.

I'm also doing exactly the same I wake up every morning clenching my teeth I never did this before only since having fibromyalgia

Hello again, I don't have fibro I came on here because I have ms and my Dr said my other symptoms are arthritis but I thought it seemed more like fibro. The point is, tnj is nit due to fibro but may be due to stress caused by fibro. An operation is a last resort and it's just one option. The other thing is avoid eating chewy food like steaks etc I'm a veggie and my tnj has been reduced to neuralgia (bad enough yes but) since I stopped eating hard to chew food. Good all

Hi i seem to have a simuliar problem I have for the last month had severe ear pain, going down to my jaw line and neck, it actually feels a little swollen. I have an appointment with my GP on Monday.

I have had this awful fibro for a few years and take a cocktail of painkillers which nothing helps, it is making me so depressed, I work full time and really are struggling to do this,

Was wondering if any one with fibro gets ear and jaw line pain, or is this another complaint I need to deal with.

Many thanks and sorry to have winged a bit but i am so down with being in pain constantly and nobody understands because they cannot see it!