Went to the dentist wednesday and i asked about the restriction opening my mouth. He said he doesn't suspect that the scar tissue is the problem, but my jaw muscles themselves. When my mouth opens more than about an inch and a 1/4 the jaw muscles go into a tight spasm & it wont open any further. *sigh* He said that the mouth guard at night is an option - but it wont be at all comfortable due to the lack of saliva. & he said some physio may relieve it. But he believes an op may be the only solution. But he said it's quite a big op. He also said if it's left the way it is i'm going to suffer more headaches, neck troubles, grinding down my back teeth. He said something was wrong with my 'middle face' *lol* can't remember what - some would argue there's a problem with my WHOLE face *lol*
On the good side, he managed to squeeze out something that could resemble saliva from my left saliva gland (though it's very thick) but nothing at all from my right. This is strange as my left side got more of a hammering than the right but- hey - thats me! & he said my teeth are fantastic! Really healthy, not cavities at all! 18 months with no saliva and they still look good. I've never had a filling in my life so i'm lucky to have had good teeth to start with.
I guess i'll ask in brighton next month about this jaw thing.
Any ways,
hope you guys are all doing ok- love to you all...
Michelle x

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Hi Chelle

Good to hear from you, was wondering how you was doing. It seems everyone is left with something or other after treatment! My son gets these spasm's in his neck mainly when he yawns!Hope the doggy salon is going well? Take care & a cyber hug coming your way
Mum
xx

Hello Chelle

An ache in the jaw is usually myofacial pain caused by clenching activity in the day and/or bruxing activity at night during sleep. To stop the night-time bruxing activity, try the advice given here.

You also need to learn the normal resting position of the jaw. This is a quick technique to find it:

• Resting Tongue & Jaw Position
  Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth and make a “cluck” sound. At the end of this action, the tip of your tongue should be in the same position that it assumes after swallowing – the correct mandibular rest position. After identifying this position, attempt to maintain it. (The anterior one-third of your tongue should make light contact against the roof of your mouth. Breathe through your nose and use your abdomen (‘stomach’) muscles for breathing.)
  

Also do the following muscle stretching exercises to relieve the tension in the muscles:

• Temporomandibular Joint Rotation Control
  Place and hold the anterior one-third of your tongue flat against the palate and open your mouth. Your tongue position will limit your opening to rotation and reduce any tendency to stick your lower jaw forward. You can monitor this joint rotation by placing a finger over the temporomandibular jaw joint. This exercise limits early forward movement of the temporomandibular joint and promotes the normal repositioning of the lower jaw condyle in the fossa. This exercise will also minimise joint sounds and reduce the abnormal wear on the structures of the temporomandibular joint. Do this exercises for a minute about six times daily. When you can do this comfortably, attempt to chew your food with this limited ‘chopping motion’. First practise this chewing action in front of a mirror while feeling the temporomandibular joint. Try to chew using both sides of your mouth.

Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi mum,
The salons doing so well its crzy!
I'm booked up about 2 weeks ahead, doing between 4 & 8 dogs a day. Starting at 8 in the morn, and in often don't get in til 8 at night!
Phew!

Thanks Dr. Joshi,
Those jaw exercises were given to me when i was younger to try and stop it from clicking and crunching all the time. Will give it a try!

Hi Chelle, I've got mouth opening problems too. I can open up about an inch.It makes dental treatment interesting sometimes. Glad the dog business is going well, rekon you truly kicked cancers ass. Hagg.