Frequently Asked Questions

For the past five months my teeth have been aching as if I've been clenching them--which I don't believe I have. They also are not meeting properly--usually the right side meets first, but this can change to both meeting or the left meeting --and the change can be just a couple of hours apart! I've had this mouth for 53 years now and this problem makes me feel like I've recently gotten someone else's teeth! Do I have any reason, other than the obvious discomfort, to be worried? Thank you for your help.

Yes. There are several things that come to mind quickly. Two are easily diagnosed and able to be corrected. The least obvious is the potential that a tumor or cyst is growing and may be affecting your bite.
Let's start with the most likely conditions.
1. You may be clenching your teeth in your sleep. Put your index finger inside your cheek and your thumb on the outside of your face opposite your finger. Close your mouth until the teeth almost touch and reach back as far on your cheek as you can towards your ear. Pinch your finger and thumb together to see if this muscle is very tender. If it is, then you are most likely clenching in your sleep. You can get an athletic mouthguard at a Discount Department store for under $5. You boil them and custom fit them to your own teeth. You can try to sleep with this and see if the condition gets better.
2. Your TMJ might be inflammed. The TMJ is the joint in front of your ear where your lower jaw attaches to the skull. There is a lining around this joint that can become inflammed if you are opening very wide (eating, singing, having dental work performed). You should switch to a soft diet and use warm compresses over the area.

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