Hi sherry,
yes, popping is very bad for your jaw. A little popping is okay, but when you get to the point you feel like you have to, bad. I am a popper. When I woke up with tmj 26 years ago, I also had to pop or it would drive me crazy. My joints were damaged by this popping and I still struggle with tmj all these years later.

Your wisdom teeth may have been why you had tmj and now that they are gone, your joints are healing. That would be great!!!

So, try not to pop and allow your jaw time to heal (can take a few months). Try and keep your body relaxed and watch your posture (especially sitting in front of the computer). Baby your jaw for a while by eating only softer foods and use moist heat directly on the area if and when it bothers you.

Take care and god bless...
Carol

Thanks for the response. I don't pop my jaw anymore. It just irritates me. Like I need to pop my jaw. But I don't. Thank you

thats not entirely true i have severe tmd and im doing very well and am almost tmd free and am getting better day by day. for more info contact me

Hi Carol,
I found your old post today, am looking up what to do for my TMJ which has flared up again after dental work. I didn't expect it this time, and certainly not as bad as it is, but it's here. I have also been having periodically severe neck/head spasms of pain, probably unrelated (I have arthritis), but maybe feeding into it also. I had not used moist heat for my jaw before, but will try that. It makes sense... I've also been taking muscle relaxant for the muscle spasms and gotten a cortisone shot into my jaw - although since it seemed to be more into the masseter muscle, I think I pointed to there when my doctor wasn't sure where. (He's done this before for me and is very good at giving the shots. Nonetheless, this hurt more this time, it was so bad! Maybe it was't the right thing to do this time!
I had a crown done 2 weeks ago, not even on a molar - tooth #19 - my teeth seem to be disintegrating one by one! Not sure if I want to keep going through this, it seems to happen about every 2 years in January! He had to cut away some of the gum, more than usual, and the gum, as well as the jaw, hurt a lot. At first, a cold pack killed the discomfort. But yesterday, I saw a chiropractor and the day before, acupunturist. (for neck & back, not jaw) It didn't occur to me that both times I was lying on my stomach, with my face in the face-pillow was soft for the first appointment, but hard for the second, and that's when the trouble started, plus I was pretty upset when I left his office - the guy's mind is elsewhere, he wants to move, and he did a move he hadn't done before, without telling me, not a good idea. So - not going back to him again. Sorry to lose him and have to start with someone else, darn it!
But after writing this, I think I understand why suddenly this has gotten worse. And I'll take your suggestions. thanks!
Ellen

Hi Ellen,
Also check to make sure that the dentist didn't change your bite by making the crown too high. Any little change to the bite can also affect the jaw.

I pray that you will find a new therapist/chiro and that your TMJ will calm right down. Thank God, my TMJ is doing well even tho I went back to the "stressful" job.

God bless...
Carol