Teeth Grinding And Tmj

[Guest BERNESES]

Dude... My chiro totally fixed my tmj...

this totally cracked me up!

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. I REALLY appreciate it. I made a chiro appt. (I've done it before and it helped tremendously with my back). Ii also made an appt with my psyhiatrist- they're awesome. I saw them last year after I had a skiing accident- they were the ones that found I had all these crazy spinal issues. I like psyhiatrists because they are more holistic (exercises, etc) but they can also prescribe meds (and they don't prescribe all that nasty narcotic stuff which I hate).

But i'm thinking that what carlab said about seeing an orthodontist who specializes in TMJ. It sounds like it would be a good thing for me to pursue. Do you know how to find one? Also what does the splint look like- is it in your mouth or am I going to look like jacob Marley's ghost?

[CarlaB]

I felt like an idiot when I was learning to eat and talk with it, especially since I have six kids to tease me about it. I put off going to an ortho for years ... I live near Indiana University, and am seeing Dr. Coghlan (sr., his son is in the practice, too). He was a professor at IU for years and taught TMJ treatment. I'm moving to Ohio, and he recommended one of his collegues to me. You could give him a call to see if he has a recommedation where you live. I originally got a recommendation from my dentist, but stopped seeing that ortho as I really don't think she knew what she was doing.

Carla

PS Yes, it's in your mouth, on your bottom teeth. It made me lisp, but my daughter wears one and she can talk normally. It didn't help that I live in "Spencer" so whenever I had to give people my address, with the two "s" sounds and the lisp, they couldn't understand me!

Oh, and it's so unnoticeable that you could participate in the activities being discussed in another forum and probably not have a problem

[Rachel--24]

Dude... My chiro totally fixed my tmj...

LMAO!!!

Dude...since the day I went gluten-free I've never worn my splint again! It just fixed itself.

The specialists I saw were telling me they didnt even know where to begin with me....that my jaw was so messed up and the joints are grating and all this other scary stuff.

Its definately the gluten and corn intolerance causing it because it causes the tissue around my joint to swell and it puts alot of pressure on my jaw. When I was on a normal diet I could barely open my mouth and I was clenching and grinding like crazy. They sent me to a TMJ class, I got the splint made and had to go to physical therapy. Those things helped but the elimination of food intolerances was key for me cuz without all that inflammation I have no TMJ.

[mouse]

I just picked up my new mouth piece today and can't wait to wear it tonight. It really relaxes the jaw muscles for me. Mine fits over the top teeth and I find that more comfortable.

[CarlaB]

I wore one on the top for a couple years and it did relax my jaw. However, my TMJ was still a problem with my jaw cracking every time I opened my mouth and a lot of pain, so I needed the bottom appliance that actually moves the jaw ... it trains the muscles to hold it in a different place, which is why you even have to wear it while eating. I had no trouble playing my flute with it (flute players are notorious for having TMJ, but I even had it for the 23 years between HS and when I started playing again). But I do remember the relief the top one would give me at night. Now my jaw never hurts, I just wear it for grinding. Just like gluten intolerance, they are still learning a lot about TMJ.

[Guest BERNESES]

Aww man. Mine was so much better for a long time and only in the last month or so it has been acting up. We'll see how my chiro appts. go. I have the mouth guard for the top, but it's not helping.

[TCA]

I have TMJ too and wear a night guard. I always regret it when I don't wear it. I also have a lot of gluten realted joint problems. Guess it's all connected. I'm glad to learn about all of these alternatives here. Thanks!

[Guest BERNESES]

well- I saw my new chiro today and I felt like she was really good. She looked at my neck, back, jaw and cranial plates (can you believe the plates in your skull move ever so slightly and they can get jammed due to TMJ- crazy????). She showed me where in my mouth to massage to help loosen up the muscle (can you say TENDER?). Did some adjustments and honestly, I do feel a little better.

oh and she said gluten free is the way to go for anyone with joint problems/arthritis. Yeah baby!

[CarlaB]

Your new chiro sounds like a keeper to me! I found out about the plates on the head when we adopted a boy from Russia. He had a flat head from laying in his crib all the time, and the chiro adjusted his skull. It made a huge difference! He was 20 months at the time, has adjusted great and is currently 9.

[prinsessa]

I didn't know what TMJ was, but now that I looked up the symtoms I think I have it. I had horrible jaw pain before going gluten free. And my jaw always felt really tight. The pain and tightness went away after going gluten-free, but I ate some gluten (on purpose) a couple of weeks ago and the pain and tightness is back. My mom is a Chiro, so I should ask her if she could try to help me. And I should ask my dentist about it. I'm not sure if my insurance would cover a guard. Does anyone know if insurance usually covers it or how much it is if it isn't covered?

[Guest BERNESES]

My insurance didn't cover a mouth piece. It was about $300 but I've had it for over 5 years and it still in good shape.

If you mom is a chiro- you are PSYCHED! I woke up the a.m. after my first adjustment and my bite had changed. I'm grinding so much less!

[CarlaB]

My insurance covered TMJ treatment because it was considered a joint problem, not a dental problem. I'd call them first and ask.

[Guest BERNESES]

Good to know! I think at the time I got mine I hadn't been diagnosed with TMJ- just bruxism.

[jerseyangel]

Insurance covered 80% of my mouth guard--it's still in good shape after over 2 years.