Are all my problems caused by teeth grinding and clenching?

[Collegedummy]

Hi, last september my old dentist told me that I grind my teeth and clench but he didn't straight out diagnose me with TMJ. I've had off and on jaw and neck pain and sinus pressure I know clenching can cause all this. He took an x-ray and asked me if I had been having any nasal problems because apparently he saw something on the x-ray, I don't know what, in which something was coming close to my nasal cavity, i'm guessing caused by my clenching because I know that can cause all kinds of problems with teeth etc. At the time I wasn't really thinking about it, but since feb. of last year i've had a constant clogged right nostril for the most part that clears up a little throughout the day and then gets worse again closer to night and then is clogged at night and when I wake up. Every once in a while it will shift over to my left nostril but is mainly my right one. Anyway I didn't think much of it at the time and told him I just had a little nasal congestion. I have now had this clogged right nostril since feb. of 2008 and it has been driving me crazy because I get sinus infections easier and get sick easier because I'm already starting with one clogged nostril and I just want it to go away and to be able to breath clearly. Also since about the same time the constant congestion started I've had an enlarged lymph node on the right  side of my neck under the back of my jaw, it's size has been close to an 3/4-1 inch long and maybe a 1/2 wide. The lymph node doesn't hurt and I can move it around but it's been enlarged for a long time and I know thats not normal or probably healthy.

Now that you have all the facts the reason why I'm here is to find out if anyone knows if my constant nasal congestion could be caused by my clenching in turn affecting something to be bothering one of my nasal cavities and therefore causing the nasal congestion and then if having this constant nasal congestion would actually be the cause of the enlarged lymph node on the right side of my neck. My mom's a nurse and said that my lymph node in my neck could have been enlarged all this time because of the nasal congestion because it's just like when your lymph nodes get enlarged when your sick with a sinus infection. I'm hoping thats the case and that it's not being caused by something like lymphoma or cancer.

I'm hoping to hear from people who know something about these types of problems and can tell me if my nasal congestion and enlarged lymph node is all related back to the affects of my clenching affecting my nasal cavity, therefore causing all these problems, which is what I have come to believe but don't know since I don't know much about all this kind of stuff. PLEASE HELP, i've had these problems for far to long and want to get them taken care of as soon as possible, though I can't right this second because i am away at college so I need people's help, thank you in advance for everyones help!

[Collegedummy]

Hi, thanks for the quick response. I think I get what your saying. Is it possible though that if something was bothering one of my nasal cavities that this could cause my nasal congestion that I've been having. Lastly could you explain to me what myofascial trigger point pathology and trigeminal autonomic cephalgia mean. I am very thankful to have found someone who knows what they are talking about, you have been very helpful. I plan to see an ENT and hopefully find a tmj specialist once the college semester is over in a few weeks. Again thank you for your help!

[scottma]

Lymph node enlargement is generally not associated with teeth clenching or temporomandibular disorder.Unilaterql nasal congestion may be associated with myofascial ytrigger point pathology of sternocleidomastoid muscle or trigeminal autonomic cephalgia, if no ent pathology identified. Seeing an ENT and tmj specialist is advised.