Metal Mouth Message Board

I have this aching jaw pain on my right side. It isn't pressure from the braces, it is up high between my nose and ear and it mostly hurts when i chew (move my jaw). It has been about 5 days now and it has gotten worse. Do you think this is just a change in my bite and will go away or should I go see the Orho??

It is most probably a result of the braces changing your bite. If it doesn't calm down by after christmas I'd give them a call. Maybe the ortho will have a trick or two to relieve the pain.
If you see swelling in the area DON"T WAIT. get someone to see you.

KIM

I am a clencher

*agree with Kim*

My bet would be that it's muscular (sounds like maybe the masseter, which is quite a big muscle) - there's not a possibility of any clenching/grinding/stress-induced muscle tension as well as bite changes is there?

But, as Kim said, if you get any swelling or heat in the area, or start to run a temperature, get it checked out ASAP.

This type of pain in the area of your zygomatic bone is probably the Lateral Pterygoid. Masseter pain would likely radiate up around the ear a bit more. The Lateral Pterygoid is one of the four muscles of mastication and the main muscle for protruding the mandible and moving in lateral directions. Your chewing stroke and clenching involve side to side motion so it is not surprising to have some pain.

So what can you do to alleviate the pain? Stop clenching (I won't charge for that advice ) If it is stress induced then calm down by whatever means you like. If it is a premature contact due to your changing occlusion hang in there a few days and it should improve. Remember, NSAIDs (Ibuprofren, Naproxin, etc) are your friends. Hang in there...

Best,
Rory

Thanks so much Rory, Kim and Meryaten!! I appreciate all of your advice!
I started out before braces being a clencher, then when I got them on I totally quit...then as my bite has changed I am clenching again. So hopefully as my bite changes more I will stop clenching altogether!