Painful jaw

[evansmummy]

So I woke up yesterday with very painful jaws. I've had this problem before, and it has been linked to me grinding my teeth in my sleep. But this morning I woke with sever pain, and although the pain has subsided a bit now, I can't close my jaw properly ie can't close my teeth togther on the left side. Does anyone have any experience of this or know what I can do?

TIA

You need to go to your GP (or dentist) and ask them to refer you to a specialist. They will probably fit you with a guard to stop you from grinding your teeth at night. I had the same problem (and still do) but mine gets dislocated completely and shoots off to one side when i open my mouth. I have to only open it slightly (making for some jokes about trying to conceal big mouths etc) but you need to get it fixed, as the longer it goes on the worse it will get. They'll probably get you to do stupid exercises to help too - when i say exercies, i mean with your mouth, not of that starjump type!

Google TMJ Disorder (temperomandibular joint- or something like that)

make sure you have an NHS dentist and don't go private, or it will cost you a fortune

...and I feel your pain, evansmummy. Quite literally!

SpringHeeledJack, it was my GP that referred me - I forgot that was what they called it! You can actually look up the exercises online.

evansmummy, looks like we've got hte same thing!

Just googled it and it certainly sounds like the same thing. I'm away atm but will go see my dentist when I get back. As I said I've had it before and my dentist did give me stupid exercises: running my tongue around the front of my teeth from side to side and other such things. It does loosen things up but doesn't stop it.

Thanks for the replies. I'm both sorry and pleased to hear I'm not the only one