TMJ

Exstonerchick wrote:Curious. Anyone here develop TMJ during PAWS? If so, did it last for the duration, recede gradually, or eventually go away all together? Anyone past PAWS but still have it? Thanks friends!

Bruxism is often caused by clenching your teeth, which is a symptom of anxiety and stress. It can be caused by other things but the numbers on here with anxiety, I'd expect it to be quite common.

Yes I've had bad TMJ and bruxism while dealing with PAWs. Don't worry it definitely gets better over time. The clenching seems to come and go with the PAWs waves. I still have periods where I clench my teeth but the TMJ is completely gone. I suspect that the clenching will stop for me completely once PAWs is gone. Make sure to get a night guard though because I ground through the enamel on my molars and now the dentin underneath is exposed. I'm going to need caps on most of my molars. Make sure to have your dentist fit you for your night guard. I've heard that some of the store bought ones can actually make it worst (i.e. some are really squishy and chewy so it actually trains people to clench more). Plus the dentist will make sure you get the fit right.

Thanks iHatePaws94. Your reply is super helpful. I’ve got bad bruxism and TMJ too. Always been a bit of a grinder but the PAWS knocked it out of the park. Developed full TMJ and the facial pain to go with it. My dentist fit me for a night guard but I’m going back to redo it today because it actually made things worse. I’m praying it goes away with time. How long into your quit did it begin to diminish? I just passed 10 months and I’m dealing with flare ups of physical symptoms - muscle and joint pain - I was sure were in the past. Was hoping I’d be done doing symptom checks on Uncommon by now! Lol. PAWS — the gift that keeps on giving.

As someone who already suffered from TMJ, I actually have found that for the most part, it's improved. I've not seen a dentist for two years (!) so it's a good thing I've stopped. Smoking and tobacco/cannabis smoke was definitely hurting my gums and creating a really bad environment for bacterial growth.

One thing to point out is that a pretty common PAWS symptom for a lot of people appears to be a drier than usual mouth, often caused by anxiety. This will contribute to bacterial growth and eventually cause tooth and gum problems, which can make it harder to open your mouth. Regular hygiene appointments will help a lot I think.