Facial pain that comes and goes

[mouthsewnshut]

I've had a problem with a bottom wisdom tooth recently. Had antibiotics, it cleared, then a few days later it returned. I called my dentist and he dispensed more antibiotic. I have bruxism (I have a splint for sleeping), I've had moderate facial pain associated with that before, but this time around it is really really painful. I feel that the pain in my tooth is almost gone now, but out of the blue, I get pain that goes from my jaw to my ear to my head and my face and it brings me to tears, this can last a couple hours. I've done cold/warm packs, that seems to help a little, I alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol, but it seems to always be there. I can't see my dentist until later in the week, I am not sure what to do. Anyone else experienced that? Could it be TMJ that just happened to be getting worse? I don't think it's down to infection, or at least not *only* down to infection. Also the anxiety of having to have something done about this is not helping with the clenching I am sure!

I saw maxillofacial surgeon about my facial pain a couple years ago, he didn't even bother examining me or looking at x-rays, just said that bruxism is a bad habit and suggested I stop doing it. ?

 

[MountainMama]

I have TMJD due to clenching my teeth at night, along with a lot of dental work that caused me to chew unevenly for a long time. Mine does the same as what you are describing. It goes through periods where it hurts a lot and then sometimes only a little. Hot packs are the only thing I have found to help, honestly. Also massaging the jaw joint gently. I also wear a night guard and try to relax my jaw at night and during the day.

 

[mouthsewnshut]

Thanks MountainMama. At the moment it is pretty much what I am doing, packs and massaging. The painrelievers work a little but not always enough. It's hard to relax your jaw when you're asleep though I find with my night guard, all it does really is keep my teeth from being damaged but doesn't stop the grinding and clenching.

 

[MountainMama]

Thanks MountainMama. At the moment it is pretty much what I am doing, packs and massaging. The painrelievers work a little but not always enough. It's hard to relax your jaw when you're asleep though I find with my night guard, all it does really is keep my teeth from being damaged but doesn't stop the grinding and clenching.

I have the same issue with sleeping. At times when it gets really bad, I will sleep with pillows propping up my head so I am in more of an inclined position or even sleep in an armchair. My oral surgeon prescribed muscle relaxers a few times when it was so bad that I couldn’t sleep.