Jaw pain from piercing. Is it ok?

What's Wrong With My Jaw?

• I'm thirteen years old, but recently when I opened and closed my mouth or chewed food my jaw pops. Ok, so it pops and then my jaw goes through a lot of pain when I try to open my mouth. To fix this, I would just snap my jaw back by making a chewing gum movement and it would pop back into place. But now I can't do that and my jaw won't snap into place, and I experience excruciating pain whenever I open my mouth to yell or eat something. WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY JAW PLEASE HELP!?!

• Answer:

  Talk to your parents about this. It sounds like a problem with your temporomandibular joint. In some cases, the symptoms of TMJ disorders may go away without treatment. If your symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend medications or a bite guard to help keep you from grinding your teeth at night. In very rare cases, surgery may be required to repair or replace the joint. Medications Painkillers. If appropriate over-the-counter pain medications aren't enough to relieve TMJ pain, your doctor or dentist may prescribe stronger painkillers. Tricyclic antidepressants. Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline, taken at bedtime help relieve TMJ pain in some people. Muscle relaxants. These types of drugs are sometimes used for a few days or weeks to help relieve pain caused by TMJ disorders. Corticosteroid drugs. For significant pain and joint inflammation, corticosteroid drugs injected into the joint space may provide relief. Botulinum toxin. Injecting botulinum toxin (Botox, others) into the jaw muscles used for chewing may relieve pain associated with TMJ disorders. Therapies Bite guard. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you may benefit from wearing a soft or firm device inserted over your teeth. This bite guard prevents your teeth from meshing together. Bite guards sometimes aggravate sleep apnea symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy. If your symptoms of TMJ disorder are made worse by poorly managed stress or anxiety, your doctor or dentist may refer you to a psychotherapist with experience in cognitive behavioral therapy. This approach includes interventions to help you be aware of and change behaviors, learn relaxation techniques, and manage stress. Surgical or other procedures Corrective dental treatment. Your dentist may improve your bite by balancing the biting surfaces of your teeth, replacing missing teeth, or replacing needed fillings or crowns. However, these types of treatments sometimes worsen TMJ pain. Arthrocentesis. This procedure involves insertion of a needle into the joint so that fluid can be irrigated through the joint to remove debris and inflammatory byproducts. Surgery. As a last resort, your doctor or dentist may suggest surgery to repair or replace the joint. But the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research considers TMJ surgery to be controversial and recommends that it be avoided whenever possible. Becoming more aware of tension-related habits — clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth or chewing pencils — will help you reduce their frequency. The following tips may help you alleviate symptoms of TMJ disorders. Avoid overuse of jaw muscles To minimize the use of jaw muscles: Eat soft foods Cut food into small pieces Avoid sticky or chewy food Avoid chewing gum Don't open your mouth too wide during yawns Stretching and massage Your doctor or dentist may show you how to do exercises that stretch your jaw muscles and how to massage the muscles yourself. He or she may also show you exercises to improve your head, neck and shoulder posture. Heat or cold Applying warm, moist heat or ice to the side of your face may help relax your muscles or alleviate pain. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/temporomandibular_joint_tmj_syndrome/article_em.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tmj-disorders/DS00355