Do I Need a Bite/mouth Guard? Posted: 11-20-06 15:05pm
Hello
i've had tmj for several years now, but
didn't know it until last year -- I was
getting frequent earaches but thought it
must be some kind of ear infection. I
found out it was tmj when I finally
managed to find an ear/nose/throat walk-in
clinic that looked at me when the pain was
actually occurring.
The clinic recommended I talk to my
dentist, so I did. The dentist didn't do
any x-rays or tests, but recomended trying
a mouthguard for nights. (my insurance
won't cover the cost.)
here's the problem -- I never have the
earaches in the morning, only during the
course of the day, usually in the late
afternoon or early evening. Does it make
any sense to try wearing a mouthguard at
night when the mornings are the only times
I never get the earaches? There doesn't
seem to be any evidence that i'm grinding
my teeth at night.
Should I find another dentist/doctor to
talk to about this? Thanks for your help.
|
catswolds
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 May 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Michigan
Posted: 11-20-06 21:27pm
Hi tmich,
i would recommend that you see another tmj
dentists, maybe even 2 or 3 more. Bite
splints are the most common and true-tried
method of managing tmj, but you are
thinking good when you mention that you
don't have pain in the morning.
But how are you going to stop the obvious
clenching and stress you experience during
the daytime? I recently had to change my
job because it was too stressful. The
move made a huge positive difference.
Look at your stress level and see if there
is anything you can do to reduce it
(massage therapy, yoga, hot tub, etc.)
also, do you sit at a desk or in front of
a computer during the day? If you do,
your posture might be the problem. It
has been noted that because of computers,
tmjd has increased and it is believed to
be the way we hold our heads (chin
thrusted up and forward)in front of the
computer screen. This puts terrible
stress on the muscles and tendons of the
neck and tmjoint. Evaluate what your
posture is like, especially in front of
the computer.
It is very important to sit at a desk or
in front of a computer with the proper
posture. For some pictures, exercises
and basic tmj information, I have found
the website - www.Nismat.Org/ptcor/tmj/<
/a> - to be pretty good.
I do work in front of a computer all day
-- i'll try to improve my posture. Are
there any devices that can help me keep my
head level that anyone knows about?
|
seb481
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3 Location: San Diego
Re: Posted: 12-07-06 12:51pm
Hello tmich,
i would recommend that you see several
other dentists.
It took me 6 dentists (and a few hundred
bucks!!) to finally found one who really
helped me.
He actually sent me to this website where
I found very relaxing excercises.
This has changed my life!!!
Let me know if you'd like to know about
this website. I am not posting it here
because I don't think it's allowed...
Take care,
sebastien
|
maison
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 3
Re: Do I Need a Bite/mouth Guard? Posted: 01-20-07 11:05am
tmich
wrote:
hello
i've had tmj for several years now, but
didn't know it until last year -- I was
getting frequent earaches but thought it
must be some kind of ear infection. I
found out it was tmj when I finally
managed to find an ear/nose/throat walk-in
clinic that looked at me when the pain was
actually occurring.
The clinic recommended I talk to my
dentist, so I did. The dentist didn't do
any x-rays or tests, but recomended trying
a mouthguard for nights. (my insurance
won't cover the cost.)
here's the problem -- I never have the
earaches in the morning, only during the
course of the day, usually in the late
afternoon or early evening. Does it make
any sense to try wearing a mouthguard at
night when the mornings are the only times
I never get the earaches? There doesn't
seem to be any evidence that i'm grinding
my teeth at night.
Should I find another dentist/doctor to
talk to about this? Thanks for your
help.
you need to find a
qualified neuromuscular dentist that can
take a case from start to finish. These
dentists use special equipment that
measure muscles. It is expensive but
many many people have been helped. There
is a dentist who is an international
lecturer and author on the subject with a
private practice in indiana. Website is:
www.Timadamsdds.Com
