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Original poster

My mouth suddenly doesn’t fit together ??

34 replies

Pink98 · 23/01/2021 16:54

Unsure how to explain this one, it’s been going on about 6 months but everyone in my life I’ve told laughs and thinks I’m crazy.

Basically my teeth / mouth / jaw just don’t comfily slot together anymore. It’s hard to explain, but I can’t just have my mouth shut without pressing all my teeth together

I get headaches all the time now and my jaw is constantly locked because I just have to keep my jaw all tense to keep my teeth together.

I can see that my bottom teeth are starting to move out of place a bit, not the top ones, but obviously this is far from ideal

It’s completely better if I’m eating of chewing gum but nothing else helps. I’ve started chewing the inside of my cheek a lot just to get some relief for my jaw and temples

Does anyone have a clue what this could be ?

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 23/01/2021 16:55

You need to see a dentist. They will see you if you explain to the receptionist. Good luck.

ditavonteesed · 23/01/2021 17:01

I would second seeing a dentist, my jaw is often locked and I get awful headaches, I have a gum shield to sleep in which helps a lot.

When you are totally relaxed teeth shouldn't be clamped together anyway but I think as soon as you think about it it feels awkward.

dgirluk · 23/01/2021 17:03

My DH saw a dentist recently due to toothache - the dentist said the only time your teeth should be together, are when your'e eating. The rest of the time, they shouldn't be together.

Since he started relaxing his jaw, the toothache (that he swore was a hole, it was so painful) has gone. So perhaps you shouldn't be trying to have them together all the time?

Original poster
Pink98 · 23/01/2021 17:03

@ditavonteesed

I would second seeing a dentist, my jaw is often locked and I get awful headaches, I have a gum shield to sleep in which helps a lot. When you are totally relaxed teeth shouldn't be clamped together anyway but I think as soon as you think about it it feels awkward.
Ahh yes clamped is the right word exactly, I could think how to describe it
OP posts:
Randomrebel · 23/01/2021 17:05

Yes see dentist. You could be clenching at night could be TMJ or TMD and their are simple exercises which really help.

Emmie2021 · 23/01/2021 17:05

You need to see a dentist

They would see you urgently to rule out things . Good luck

Original poster
Pink98 · 23/01/2021 17:06

@Emmie2021

You need to see a dentist

They would see you urgently to rule out things . Good luck

Is this a symptom of something serious which may need to be urgently ruled out ?
OP posts:
Hampotsandonions · 23/01/2021 17:08

If you don't have any luck with a dentist, go and see a doctor. I'm not an HCP but some drugs such as ADs can cause wierd sensations in the jaw apparently and (although very rare) some symptoms related to chewing can be caused by brain tumours or other neurological illnesses, so although it's probably not that, it's worth checking out. Hope you feel better soon.

Emmie2021 · 23/01/2021 17:19

@Hampotsandonions

If you don't have any luck with a dentist, go and see a doctor. I'm not an HCP but some drugs such as ADs can cause wierd sensations in the jaw apparently and (although very rare) some symptoms related to chewing can be caused by brain tumours or other neurological illnesses, so although it's probably not that, it's worth checking out. Hope you feel better soon.
Yes was going to say can be (rarely!!!) symptom of condition/s they would want to rule out
Bemystarlord · 23/01/2021 17:21

Really interesting to follow this as i have had the exact same problem for the last couple of months. Feels like my upper and lower jaw are no longer aligned properly!

Nets888 · 23/01/2021 17:22

I realised my bite is off too. It started in August when I noticed my teeth were clenched together. Soon after I have this chronic niggling toothache which has now spread to my front bottom teeth. I'm hoping to get a mouthguard.

Could you be clenching your teeth at night?

DobbyTheHouseElk · 23/01/2021 17:24

Stress can do this. If you clench or grind your teeth at night. There are exercises you can do. So with your hands press against your chin with pressure while you try to open your mouth.

Chalkcheese · 23/01/2021 17:24

Sounds like you are teeth grinding. When you're relaxed your teeth shouldn't meet, they should only meet when your grinning Grin or eating etc. It sounds like you're stressed and holding your face differently, IME its because of which muscles you have tensed during night time brutish, but I would want to rule out another underlying cause also

OhTheTastyNuts · 23/01/2021 17:24

I had similar when I was really stressed and grinding my teeth/clenching my jaw while sleeping. It was something to do with my tempromandibular joint (or something). A gum shield and relaxation exercises helped to fix it.

But definitely get it checked out!

Sprig1 · 23/01/2021 17:26

Are you stressed? It sounds like it could be stress related.

orangejuicer · 23/01/2021 17:26

Sounds like TMJ to me but do get checked out OP when you can.

ValancyRedfern · 23/01/2021 17:29

I have this. It's from grinding my teeth at night. I got a shield from the dentist a few years ago but I just couldn't sleep with it on so abandoned it. It's particularly bad at the moment. A painful click every time I bite down when eating. I've had a headache for about the last 10 years! Maybe I should look for that shield again...

ineedaholidaynow · 23/01/2021 17:30

I had to have a gum shield, after clenching jaw/grinding teeth I felt as if my jaw was slightly misaligned and made it feel as if all my teeth were wobbly as they weren't meeting as they should when I was eating. The gum shield sorted it. I have eaten my way through one gum shield though so still clench/grind my teeth!

winterinmadeira · 23/01/2021 17:32

It sounds like TMJ. You describe classic symptoms which are caused by teeth grinding or clenching. See a dentist and tell them all your symptoms and they will probably make you a mouth guard.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 23/01/2021 17:39

I think you need a head the next size up.

(I'm not a doctor)

DishedUp · 23/01/2021 19:16

No one can have their mouth shut without pressing all their teeth together? That's the exact definition of your mouth being shut? Everyone has to keep their jaw tense to keep their teeth together!

Everyone's teeth naturally move with time, in particular as we age they drift forward so front teeth will start to be crowded

What you are describing is clenching, and functional habits. You need to see your dentist for management of TMJd

Witchend · 23/01/2021 22:21

I had a weird one about 15 years ago, but it was shortlived (thankfully)

I'd had some sort of bug the day before, and had felt very nauseous, and had spent most of the day with a temperature and clenching my jaw to stop myself being sick.

Next day I woke up and my jaw was stuck so I couldn't properly open my mouth and I couldn't put my teeth together, as my lower jaw was about an inch stuck backwards. When you looked in my mouth you could see the teeth in my lower jaw were kind of disappearing under the upper gums (if that makes sense).

I had xrays done and various consultants checking over that day, and the conclusion was that I was clenching my jaw overnight and for some reason the jaw joint had swollen, so it had swollen into the position I was clenching them in.

It was very odd. They gave me anti-inflammatory and a couple of days later it eased. Which was a good thing as I couldn't eat any solids like that. Grin

The GP had not come across it before, and I don't think the consultants really had either.
I do have a slightly weak jaw joint, as occasionally (and more often in pregnancy) if I've slept on one side heavily, I wake to find it slightly dislocated. If I roll over onto the other side it always goes back quickly, although can feel a bit odd for an hour or so.
They did offer me a mouth guard for overnight, but I never have tried one.

greensnail · 23/01/2021 22:28

Do you have to wear a mask for long periods of time? I find after a 12 hour shift wearing masks my jaw feels strange and in the wrong place.

mummytolittledragons · 23/01/2021 22:45

Strange question but any chance you up could have tetanus ? Even just a tiny chance ?

Original poster
Pink98 · 23/01/2021 23:24

@mummytolittledragons

Strange question but any chance you up could have tetanus ? Even just a tiny chance ?
I don’t think so, I’m up to date with all my childhood jabs so assuming I’m protected against it
OP posts: