Jaw pain on Tx

I'm on week 41 of tx and for the last couple of weeks have been experiencing a tightening in the jaw area. I don't know if I grind my teeth at night, but the clenching continues during the day with most the discomfort in that joint (TMJ?) I don't know if it's med related but I'm noticing my anxiety levels raising a bit even on low dose AD's.  Any suggestionsfor relief?

Pam

[Willy50]

LOL.

It sounds as though it could be a case of True Grit.

It is not unheard of that people have worn or broken teeth while on TX.  
So one of the solution might be a mouth guard at night.  That however could merely be treating the symptom.....

I dunno if an anti-anxiety drug might help.  That comes into the realm of asking the shrink what they think.

I suppose it could be something other than stress, but that's all I can think of. (besides tetanus) ; )

Could be worse, hope you get to the bottom of it all,

Willy

[justme53]

Willy,

Lol, I hate to admit it but tetanus did cross my mind. A little medical knowledge can be a scary thing! And yet the very thought of another pill makes me cringe.....

I'll give it some time and see if it resolves on its own before I panic....:-)

Pam

[Willy50]

Before you *panic* call the "dude".  He has the cure for anxiety.  ; )

(Lol; well, it isn't another pilll)

illegal smile......
Willy

[newleaf09]

The riba causes teeth grinding at night (they call it bruxism on the label).  I had a nightguard but lost it part way through TX and was too tired to go to the dentist and have another made.  When I finally went back to him after TX, he was amazed that I had ground through a gold crown.  Get one and save your teeth and save yourself from pain.

[meakea]

Pam, I just had a tooth extracted because it was determined that the jaw/behind the ear pain I was having was from a fractured tooth.  Yup, I fractured a tooth while on TX.

[justme53]

I will give my dentist a ring. It's the inside of my cheeks that get the most irritated from the clenching it seems. Feels better if I chew gum , but worse for my teeth, I know.  Have some tongue inflammation that I need checked out too...bright red at times. I'm starting to wonder if a Vit. B-12 deficiency may be causing the mouth issues and extreme fatigue. Kind of an 'eeny-meeny-miney-mo' process with sx.

I tell ya, a "puff" is sounding better and better with each passing day !

[Willy50]

Hate to recommend it.  there are some which will say it promotes fibrosis.  I guess that lots of things can cause that too, including eating, drinking and taking prescription drugs.

There are also studies which have shown that it can help people get thru TX.

BTW.... you can get a mouthguard at any sporting goods store or pharmacy.  All that the cheap ones are are some thermo sensitive plastic.  Boil it (it becomes mallable), bit down on it and it becomes firm and has molded to your teeth.  I've seen em sold for one dollar.  No doubt the dental ones are better but sometimes bigger and better when its in your mouth can become obtrusive.

You can also get them at any pharmacy.

Willy

[Rockerforlife]

Teeth grinding can do a lot of damage to your teeth and also cause headaces

Signs and Symptoms
Some of the symptoms or signs of bruxism includes chronic facial pain; soft tissue on the inside of the cheek; headache; jaw pain or tightness in the jaw muscles; earache (caused from bruxism, not an ear infection); increased tooth sensitivity; worn tooth enamel that exposes the inside of your teeth; flattened, worn down, or chipped teeth; and teeth grinding or chipping that is loud enough to wake your partner.

http://oral-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/teeth_grinding



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