Good Morning, Boston!
I have TMJ, thank God I don't have TN though. I've learned to alternate chewing on both sides. Not an easy task when one is so used to chewing on one side. I'm not sure if you know this but, health insurance does not pay for TMJ, however Dental Insurance does, which is much cheaper. Contact MetLife and see if you can get a dental insurance policy - I pay $22.00 per month for my husband and me. It reduces the out of pocket to the dentist a lot. My assistant also had TMJ - she got a mouth guard for night time.

I hope this helps you,
T

Good Afternoon TNWife...

You always have the information I seem to be seeking.. I will start the alternate chewing right away.. I did the exercise it feels weird.. tingling like when you lift weights your muscles are sore... I am going to check into MetLife... that seems to be a reasonable premium. I would be able to afford... Thank you!!! :)

Is your TMJ on the same side as your TN or the opposite side?

I knew that chewing on one side was bad for something but I didn't realize it was TMJ. So, even when I thought my TN was TMJ I was trying to chew on the affected side also, but only soft foods.

Physical therapists and acupuncturists treat TMJ. I went to phys. therapy thinking that I had TMJ, and one day I just stood there crying. My therapist and everyone else thought I had some kind of emotional problem. My therapist even got a little testy with me, so when I got the right dx I called her to let her know that I didn't have TMJ.

I would be cautious of dentists who suggest that you need a mouth guard since you know the chewing brought it on. It's best to find a dentist who specializes in TMJ if the exercizes don't help. There are only a handful of them here in NYC. Unless a dentist specializes they really don't know what they're doing.

A book I got that's pretty good is "Taking Control of TMJ" by Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S.

Yes BostonTN I have also been getting jaw clicking and locking on the opposite side of my Atypical TN. It doesn't hurt yet but it just keeps clicking. It is awful. I chew alot of gum and I do favor one side of chewing over the other. The gum chewing amazingly helps my tn pain. Weird but true. Where are these exercises you found?

Hi Boston,
Yeah, I know. I think it's because I'm older and my parents and in-laws had a lot of health problems. It exposes you to a lot of different types of information.
Hugs,
T

I had been noticing that I chew on the opposite side to the TN and had mentioned it to hubby. There had also been a lot of popping sounds. I've also noticed that my jaw gets tired and when it does I tend to leave meals uneaten. Doesn't have to be tough food either, can just be the last few mouthfuls of pasta that I don't want to eat because one side aches and I'm scared the other side will trigger TN

http://www.tmjremedyadvice.com/exercises-for-tmj/how-to-fix-tmj-tmj-jaw-exercises/

This is the web page.. It worked last nite I was able to eat.. When I stood in the mirror it was an awaking of how off my lower jaw was.. You can see that one side was stronger than the other.. I will see a dentist once I get insurance...TN Wife gave me information about Met Live... I wish I was alone in this but it appears that we all suffer the same things.... :( GraceforGrace.. It gets me so mad when I find out someone who was misdiagnosed and put though what you went through... I'm glad you called her back... to let her know of her shortcomings... Good for you... Thanks everyone :)

the best thing for tmj is a night splint. i clench my teeth, always have and the splint helps you keep from doing this and keeps things in better alignment. i have atn on opposite side of face, not related some days i don't know which side to chew on so i go the soup and soft diet route until things calm down.. but i do believe one can flare up the other. so good investment some dental insurances have benefits for splints. even if yours does not i would pay out of pocket it is a life saver.
blessings for pain free days.
jady

J Lady can you just pick the splint up or do you need to be fitted for one?

Oh girl welcome to my world. I am so sorry! I hold my mouth still because moving my mouth can make things worse for me. that is how my TMJ started. The excercises can help. Dont forget to do neck excercises aswell. Sometimes you dont realise that your neck starts getting stiff but you are focused on the worse pain. Let me know how things go. Good luck.
Julie