How do you close your jaw? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

mlbhistory · 01-04-2009, 04:26 PM

I was diagnosed by my GP with TMD after I thought I was suffering from a long sinus infection. I'm 51 and a widow with two grown daughters and two baby grandsons that I babysit 2 and 1/2 days a week. I teach at a college two days a week. I think my regular dentist opened my jaw too wide when he did some dental work this summer and I went off Yaz estrogen after I saw some articles linking it to TMD problems. I am trying to break in a splint/retainer and my doctor is very understanding and allows me muscles relaxants, skelaxin, which allows me to function. What I was wondering is the way I normally have to close my jaw is to bite my fingers or my arm, and sometimes when I am home I can close by biting down on the contour ends of two toothbrushes. Does anybody have any suggestions since I need to keep teaching to pay the mortgage and I really want to babysit my grandsons since they didn't like daycare and it is expensive. Thanks.

scrimshaw · 01-04-2009, 10:00 PM

I'm not sure I understand what is happening with your jaw. I have never heard of having to bite down on something to make your jaw close. Mine usually closes fine, but used to get stuck open now and then (when yawning, for example) before I started muscle relaxants. I used to put my head back and massage my neck to get it to close again.

StillHope · 01-04-2009, 10:06 PM

What do you mean that you have to bite on something? Do you mean that otherwise it is not comfortable for you to be doing things? As if there are no teeth in your mouth where you want to close?

My VDO (vertical dimension of the bite) was lowered and whenever I have it in temps I have my nose runny tho I do not have any sinus problems. To me it seems that you might have the same problem.
Did you have your back teeth adjusted around the time that your sinus started? Can you easily eat lattice or sushi?

Thelma-Louise · 01-05-2009, 10:16 AM

I was wondering if you had an MRI or Ct scan to see if your discs were displaced. If you need add'l height to be able to close it is either as SH suggests, that your back teeth were lowered and you have lost vertical dimension or your discs are displaced preventing your jaw from closing. A splint worn 24/7 should be able to restore your vertical dimension and at the same time allow the discs to return to proper functioning - if they are indeed displaced.