Any advice on TMD with braces

[savin4fun]

I got my braces 3 weeks ago. Since then, my TMD has gotten worse. Muscle spasms, teeth clinching and grinding at night and my jaws ache a lot. Is this normal? Could it be caused by all the adjusting and will improve as my bite improves? I only have my top braces right now and I have build up on my molars to keep from biting down on my brackets. I think the build up is actually contributing to the TMD and making it worse. Any one with experience with TMD and braces?

[EWUgal15]

My orthodontist said I would likely stop grinding and clenching when my braces went on because my teeth would be sore and my body would adapt. For the most part, I did. About 3 months in to my treatment, I had my dentist make a soft fitted guard that wouldn't prohibit movement with my braces. It seemed to help but I couldn't wear it for very long as my teeth moved. I noticed things getting better as time went on and my clenching and grinding has been much better since my BSSO surgery for an underdeveloped mandible. ***This surgery was not for TMJD and does not guarantee positive results in the treatment of TMJD.***

Every case is different, just be patient and if it's really bothering you, take it to your team and make it known. They should monitor it for you or have more suggestions.

[savin4fun]

Thank you so much for the reply. I contacted my ortho and he said to get a cheap mouth guard and wear it at night on my bottom teeth since they are not braced yet. My appointment is in 11 days and he said they would see how I am doing then. The mouth guard did help with the initial pain from the clinching at night but my molar teeth were so sore I could barely eat the next day. I think it actually made me clinch more. I also woke up feeling nauseous and dizzy so I took it out. Maybe it was a coincidence. I am trying very hard to be patient but I am worried I am actually making things worse instead of better. I would be so disappointed to go through all this and spend all this money only to make things worse. My teeth are very crowded and crooked so I need braces for cosmetic reasons but I was really hoping it would help my TMD which has progressed after having impacted wisdom teeth removed. I could "pop" my jaw for as long as I could remember but I never really clinched and grinded my teeth or had this degree of pain until they were removed. Been trying mouth exercises, TENS on my neck/shoulders and even some yoga. Maybe all the shifting and pressure is contributing to the TMD?

[krizzz]

Yeah, I got braces 5 days ago and obviously my teeth are sore so whenever my body attempts to clench my teeth when I'm asleep I wake up :) So, in a weird way braces are preventing me from clenching :)