Let me give you some history here. Like four or five years ago, I injured my jaw in the most embarrassing way I think possible. Was I in a bar fight with a biker chick? No. Was I in a horrifying accident and saved three people's lives? No. Was I on a roof saving the neighbors cat and fell? No.I was losing my lunch in the confines of my bathroom. I had a nasty migraine that day. Migraines make me extremely nauseous, and that was the result. During that little episode, I felt a snap in my jaw on the left side of my face. I didn't think anything of it because I was...er....busy at the time doing other things.
Within twelve hours I noticed suddenly my teeth didn't line up at all. It was extremely difficult to chew meat. After several days, I noticed I always had a low grade headache. I just attributed that to coming off the migraine.
Within a month, I was bothered. Eating was a nightmare, and nothing was making the headaches go away. I wanted to see a doctor. Okay, where do you go? Your dentist or the doctor?? I flipped a coin and went to the dentist. He immediately knew what it was and how to remedy it. His wife is an old friend of mine and has the same problem from an even more embarrassing injury. But I digress....
The solution, wearing a mouth guard at night in my mouth. Yes, the same kind of mouth guard athletes wear. He said there is no explanation for why it works, but it works in about 95% of patients. It doesn't actually fix the problem, the jaw is permanently damaged--but it does line up the teeth and makes the headaches go away. He also said it would help the wear and tear on my teeth since I clench my teeth at night. Okie dokie!
I got my mouth guard, and have had it since. Let me tell you, it doesn't bring my sexy factor up wearing it at night. Plus, the first week or so, I was always on the verge of gagging on it. Now, it's nothing--and it fixed the problem within a few nights. Nice! But I have gotten lax. I wear it occasionally, if not at all. My teeth feel fine, and I have so many other things to think about at bedtime. I don't mind wearing it though, I have just gotten lazy.
Well, over Christmas, suddenly I am waking up with nasty headaches. I start attributing it to holiday stress. But it dawns on me, these headaches are very similar to the ones I had when I first did this injury. I dust off my guard and put it in a few nights ago. Yep, you guessed it. I woke up without a headache and a lot more refreshed.
So if I ever spend a night with you, be sure to ask me to model my sexy mouth guard. I really need to get back to wearing that all the time.
5 comments:
Is that mouth guard one that was made for you? I have the same thing, but went to physical therapy which worked. But I often have to do some exercises with my lower jaw and it's still not ever been the same.
I didn't feel a pop, but my teeth didn't line up and got worse and worse after a long session at the dentist.
It was custom made for me. The dentist took impressions and had to send away to a lab for them. Although I have seen ads for an over the counter type of mouth guard. What did you do for the original injury? Do you remember? I am sure a long session at the dentist holding your mouth open made things hurt for sure!
Sorry, I just reread your comment carefully and see the injury. I thought the dentist visit just exacerbated something that was there before. Yes, it is an over-extension of the jaw that does it. It's actually pretty easy to do.
With your very positive review of the mouth guard, I think I'm going to have one made. I sometimes do wake up with my teeth clenched. I didn't ever realize that I did that before.
Oh good! Your dentist will take impressions and you'll have to wait for them a few days. Our insurance covered the majority of it. But since I have had mine they also have over the counter ones. I would ask your dentist if those are just as effective. I kind of don't think so.
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