Sore jaw.

[ReginaGeorge]

Hey, guys. The left side of my jaw has better hurting a lot recently. It hurts when I open my mouth, so while talking is fine, it makes eating a pain in the arse. Chewing on that side hurts as well, but I don't think it's a tooth problem because I've pressed on my teeth and gums in there with my finger and didn't get any pain.

I don't know exactly how long I've had it because when it started I thought it would go away, but it hasn't so I'm guessing a week or less.

Last night I tried to 'exercise it out' by opening my mouth really wide a few times, but that has made it worse. At one point I felt a faint trail of pain from my ear down to my jaw.

I have no idea where this came from or what it is. Any thoughts?

[workingatperfect]

Do you know if you grind your teeth in your sleep? The only way you would know is if someone is within earshot while you're sleeping if it hurts worst when you first wake up and is sore around where your pre-molars are. You could have TMJ. I had a problem with grinding my teeth a few years ago, and my doctor said my jaw pain was from that.

How well do you sleep?

[ReginaGeorge]

Do you know if you grind your teeth in your sleep? The only way you would know is if someone is within earshot while you're sleeping if it hurts worst when you first wake up and is sore around where your pre-molars are. You could have TMJ. I had a problem with grinding my teeth a few years ago, and my doctor said my jaw pain was from that.

How well do you sleep?

I have absolutely no idea if I do that, but it would make sense because I have no memory of any event that could have brought this on and I've been extra down and stressed lately. It hurts more when I wake up but I thought that was because I haven't moved it for 6 - 9 odd hours and it's extra stiff.

Getting to sleep can take me hours, staying asleep is usually fine but I do wake up occasionally, getting up is pretty normal though.

[workingatperfect]

I have absolutely no idea if I do that, but it would make sense because I have no memory of any event that could have brought this on and I've been extra down and stressed lately. It hurts more when I wake up but I thought that was because I haven't moved it for 6 - 9 odd hours and it's extra stiff.

Getting to sleep can take me hours, staying asleep is usually fine but I do wake up occasionally, getting up is pretty normal though.

That's probably what it is. Apparently it's caused by stress and not sleeping very soundly. You might want to try some OTC sleeping pills a couple times and see if it starts to get better. That's what my doctor had me do. If that helps, you should look into a better solution to it, as taking sleeping pills all the time isn't really ideal.

[rocketsheep]

fffff

[Naue]

I'd say take Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs and go and see your Physician or GP as soon as possible.

If it's bothering you constantly, it's a problem that needs seeing to.

[Second Chance]

I agree with the person above who thinks you might be grinding your teeth during your sleep. You would have no way of knowing whether or not you do so because it happens unconsciously. What you should do is see your dentist who can look at your teeth and determine if there is a grinding pattern on your teeth. If so, then you can get a mouth guard that you can put in while you are sleeping so that you don't grind your teeth. (You can also get a mouth guard that you can mold yourself from drugstores, too, though I don't know how easy those things are to customize). I think if you get a mouth guard, then you'll feel a lot better.

[ReginaGeorge]

you could have slept on it wrong

That's what I thought it was at first and paid no notice of it, but it's been over a week now and I haven't changed sleeping positions to cause this.