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doglover818 · Oct 20, 2010, 07:15 PM

Started with bilateral jaw pain on right when chewing or yawning. No clicking or obvious trauma. Lasted about a week, then noticed a kind of ear "fullness" on right side. No ear pain. Still bilateral jaw pain on yawning/chewing, pain is sharp. Worse on waking but no one has ever told me I grind my teeth at night. At some point I noticed a small, mild sore back right of inside of cheek. Starting 1-2 days ago rear gums are swollen, upper and bottom gums for the teeth I use to chew. Today food tastes a little different and last two days I've not been as hungry though this is only a slight appetite change. Last night I was half-asleep and woke up trembling but wasn't cold, reminded me of a Wellburtin-induced baby seizure I had once years ago, not sure this is related. Also since the gums are swollen it seems like my teeth don't fit together as well as before, like I have to shift them backward a tiny bit for them to fit like they usually do. (Directions say give detail so I have done so in my whole message, but symptoms alone are in this paragraph in case you want to quit reading here.)

I can't tell if TMJ fits the swollen gum/taste change/appetite change part of this, but I found something linking TMJ to stress and posture. I took one night to do self-massage with emotional release and the next day my jaw seemed a little better. However symptoms have continued overall, with new ones, and I haven't had time to continue a self-massage regimen. Recently started emotionally taxing work but have felt like I was not particularly stressed about it. I don't have a history of ear infections or TMJ but as a child had a lot of sinus/allergy issues. I have tried to eat more carefully and not eat things that use my jaw as much. I have used a saline rinse in case it is sinus-related. I have focused on not tilting my head downward so much in the day and focused on making sure my jaw is relaxed. The swollen gums/taste and appetite change started after working on posture.

Is this more likely TMJ or something else like an infection? I prefer home treatment so ideas for that appreciated. I have a prescription of Suprax I could get filled but would like to know how likely this is an infection before I fill it and whether that antibiotic is likely to work on a jaw/mouth infection. Please ask if you need more info.

abrokenrecord · Oct 20, 2010, 08:04 PM

Have you treated your sinus issues recently with Sudafed? Pseudo-ephedrine and Phenylephrine (like other amphetamines), are closely linked with tooth-grinding and TMJ.

doglover818 · Oct 20, 2010, 08:14 PM

A couple months ago I had a cold and pseudo-ephedrine was probably in the medicine. It's been several weeks since then though. Any idea how much time usually passes for there to still be a link? Interesting, hadn't heard that before.

J_9 · Oct 20, 2010, 08:19 PM

It very well could be a sinus infection. We have sinus cavities in quite a few places in our cranium. Make a doctor's appointment to have this checked out and treated.

doglover818 · Oct 20, 2010, 08:34 PM

I see what you're saying. I only have two visits left on my insurance for the rest of the year so I'm trying to see whether this is bad enough to use one of them when I don't know how the rest of my year will go. I take the point though, thank you

J_9 · Oct 20, 2010, 08:43 PM

Temporarily you can try alternating Benadryl and Sudofed. This should dry any fluids you may have in your sinuses. If that doesn't work in a week, then go to the doctor.

I have to do this every year about this time because I get the same symptoms you are describing. And there are only 2 months left in the year, so 2 visits should work in just fine.

lorikay56 · Apr 15, 2011, 06:32 PM

In the late 80's, I went to UCLA TMJ clinic. They didn't determine that I needed a night guard, and my sister has bitten through two of them and they are very expensive. You can go to the sports store and buy that wax, sports men use to protect their teeth. This is a cheap way of testing whether a night guard would work for you. I learned neck and arm/shoulder exercises. One exercise is when you say the letter "N", in a natural way, your tongue is positioned right behind your top teeth in a relaxed position, I clench my teeth - not grind. So if you concentrate and say "N" a lot you will become aware of the tension you hold in your jaw. Also, I used heat packs around my shoulders and neck, and had ultra sounds. I haven't had it for years and right now I have a flare up, my retainer won't fit because my gums are swollen. Hope this helps. Look up exercises for TMJ, I am sure they have them online somewhere.