Clicking jaw. Shoot me now. Please.

[Workinghardeveryday]

My dp of nearly 15 years has in the last couple of years developed a REALLY REALLY loud clicking jaw when he eats.

Seriously, I try so hard for it to not bother me, but every single mealtime, I cannot enjoy my food. Click click click. It is the noise of the click, it is so loud and sort of grates in his jaw. Like bones grinding and clicking, every chew of his food.

I have had enough of it.

I love him dearly, but O M F G. I just want to eat without this noise that sends me on edge and no matter how hard I try to ignore it, I hear nothing else but it.

And, not to mention the chewing with mouth open, slurping everything single mouthful. You may think, soup, something with a sauce. No. Anything, anything at all. I mean who slurps a chip or a burger?

feel horrible writing that. But, I can’t take another meal.

He probably slurps because he can’t use his jaw properly. Might be connected to his hearing issues.
Have you talked to him about his table manners otherwise?
If he’s had a lot of ear infections and he is deaf he should probably see an Ear Mouth Throat specialist. He needs a hearing aid, too, if he wants to prevent dementia in later years.
NHS doesn’t seem to be meeting the needs of people on non-life-threatening conditions in the way it used to. Maybe try going private if you have some savings and it’s making you crazy? Could be cheaper than a divorce (or a defense lawyer😆)

Aargh, I meant Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist!!

No not at all and I think any noise he did here at the start he is totally used to

😂, yes you maybe right!

It isn’t an issue for him unfortunately..

The table manners, I have mentioned over the years but it has made no difference. I was brought up with not strict, but proper table manners if you know what I mean. He just doesn’t see the fuss!

He did spend at lot of time with ENT when he was growing up but nothing since. Does it actually cause dementia if you are hard of hearing and don’t wear an aid? I had no idea!!

Research suggests it makes dementia more likely. There’s a big push where we live in Japan to get people to get hearing aids if they need them, and public funding is available. 30% of the population is over 65 so it’s in everyone’s interest.

It’s linked with keeping both cognitive skills and social interaction going.

There’s an article relating to the research findings about dementia running in the Guardian at the moment. Other factors such as diet are also important, of course.

Here’s the link to the article

I have a clicky jaw and very painful TMJD too. I have a plastic mouthguard to wear at night but that doesn’t help as I just bite down on it instead of my teeth. It’s a stress thing with me I don’t grind I bite. Went to a consultant and had x-rays etc and he said not a lot can be done, some days eating is painful. I would firstly get him to a dentist (it was my dentist to referred me to a private consultant this was during covid waits were 12 months plus and I was desperate)

Goldfish exercises are helpful - I do them before I sleep.

Also pilates and yoga exercises that help with tension in the back, shoulders and neck help because bad posture there has a knock on effect on how you hold your jaw, to compensate.

I don't think they are a cure, but they stop it getting worse and help avoid pain.