Hi,

i have just turned 23-years-old and for about the past three years i’ve had a clicky jaw, i.E. A jaw that ‘pops/clicks’ when I open my mouth at times. About six months ago, I was given a mouth guard to wear at night by my dentist who said he suspected I grind my teeth at night, he basically put some moulding stuff into my mouth, pushed it down hard onto my bottom teeth and then pulled it out, therefore making a mould of my bottom teeth (the mouth guard). I was told to wear this mouth guard at night and, if possible, when using the pc – which I have done.

The results seemed good. However, about three weeks ago, I was eating a kfc and I got some food in my back wisdom tooth. I put my tongue in the tooth to get the food out and I had a terrible stabbing pain in my jaw hinge (the one that had been clicking over the years). My ear also hurt a lot, it seemed to almost be inside the ear, sounds strange I know!

Now, for the last three weeks, I have hardly been able to eat – sometimes it seems slightly better but then one yawn or bad bite and the pain is back and is unbearable. Also – the clicking in my jaw now seems to be much worse. My jaw seems extremely tight and my sister noticed I appear to be talking through my teeth now rather than actually opening my mouth properly when I talk. So, I have – tight jaw and sometimes – most notably when I don’t have my mouth guard in, intense pain in my jaw, mainly when biting. My mouth also seems to be dry a lot, like there isn’t enough saliva – not sure if that is related?!

I have made an emergency appointment at the dentist, but they can’t fit me in until next week.

Does anyone know what they think i’ve done here?

I am really worried because I have just started a professional singing career, which I have always wanted to do and this is now seriously going to hinder it – please tell me this will get better soon!