Yes, I share your experience!I had TMJD as a teenager but never had any pain. During pregnancy many years later, three of my teeth cracked. I had 2 root canals and 3 crowns total during and after pregnancy. I developed severe jaw pain and my bite changed drastically. This all happened 2 1/2 years ago. During the first year I went to my dentist, an orthodontist, and an oral sugeon. I found that most dental professionals cannot explain much about TMJ disorders. I have since found a dentist who has training in neuromuscular dentistry, and he has brought much comfort and understanding to my situation. What I have learned is this:
TMJD is extremely complex and hard to pinpoint exactly what causes problems. However, through my personal experience, I have learned that pregnancy adds a lot of weight to your body. This extra weight adds strain to your neck, especially if you have a tendancy to posture with your neck forward. Strain on the neck adds strain to your jaw and facial muscles. If you have too much strain, your joints can suffer. MRI has shown that my soft tissue disks in my TMJs are dislodged. This can correct itself, or your joint can sort of create a new disk out of tissue, allowing your jaw to function normally. In my case, this did not happen. An occlusal splint can help relieve a lot of muscle strain, and give extra proprioception (sensory input in your mouth) to help recovery. I highly recommed one of these. It cost me about $285 but has been a life saver! I also went to physical therapy, where I learned exercises to help strengthen weakened muscles. Ultrasound, heat, and use of TENS (electrical stim) can bring a lot of relief and help you correct postural habits that may contribute to the strain on your muscles. In my case, I continued to have a lot of difficulty after pregnancy, as holding and carrying a baby adds more strain to the neck and jaw muscles. I ate a lot of soft foods during this time. With time, I am able to function much better. Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and meditation, have also helped me. The best advice for TMJD: do not do anything irreversible! There are a lot of professionals who are quick to recommend drastic surgery and other invasive procedures. When pregnant and even afterwards, your body will be under a lot of stress! If you need any dental treatment, make sure the dentist looks at your range of motion before prying your mouth open, which can damage your joints! Also, make sure your neck has support under it during any dental work. Women of childbearing age are most at risk for TMJ problems, and most dental professionals do not have a good understanding of this. There is a TMJ Association website that also has very valuable information. I hope all this helps. I wish you well!
