Anyone's Teeth Shifted from TMJ/Neck Issues?

I had braces and my teeth were perfect. My lower teeth started to move a few years ago, but lately they have moved a few centimeters and bunched up. I am nervous, I know my tinnitus is from neck/jaw issues and have TMJ, but I don't know what to do. Going back to the TMJ place very soon. I got a splint that fits my upper teeth and they basically didn't move. 95% of the movement is coming from the lower teeth.

 

Bump... Too early to say, but since the shifting this last 5-6 days I've had more bad tinnitus days.

 

They move over time regardless. My entire bottom row are jacked right up and they were straight as an arrow 20 years ago.

 

Yeah I heard that too, but if my tinnitus stays worse then it's definitely from my lower teeth shifting the last month.

@Greg Sacramento what's the most likely way to get tinnitus? Neck issues, jaw being out of alignment, teeth moving, etc...

 

@Matthew Gould Hard to say, but I bet it's from biting down when using your upper your mouth guard. A low white blood count can also quickly cause shifting of teeth. Have you been sick?

 

Yeah it's from biting down most likely. Went to a new TMJ/dentist and he adjusted and trimmed my rock hard splint so the back teeth touch down on the splint first/only. This guy is way better... No I haven't been sick.

 

@Greg Sacramento I'm trying for probably the last time to nip this in the bud. I'm going to a neck specialist in a week... Besides an MRI, what type of X-ray should I get?

You mentioned a type of X-ray that is like a motion X-ray or something that would show my neck messed up in a different position during the X-ray...

Also can teeth re-align themselves or won't they straighten back up once they have moved?

 

@Mathew Gould
You once said "I'm in a quiet room I can barely hear it, if I'm watching tv, the louder the tv volume the louder the T."

You have mentioned so many things that has helped with improvement or made it worse - of different natures - jaw - neck and things that relate to hearing.

I really can't connect everything together.

 

@Mathew Gould If your tinnitus can fade to almost nothing, then it's probably jaw position causing tinnitus. The jaw and neck is like a seesaw and one can affect the other by either neck or jaw posture. More so with having such problems, it's jaw joints, surrounding muscles and nerves causing tinnitus. When the jaw is sore, tinnitus can often relate to jaw pressure from either clenching or opening mouth too wide for too long.

For those with TMJ/D getting dental care, hand support under jaw is needed when mouth is opened.

 

Well I'm going to a very good (I think) TMJ dentist now... For basically the first 2 years of my tinnitus I would have 55% of days where I would barely hear my tinnitus and 45% when it was loud and annoying. In January 2020 my neck slideout of position while leaning over the sink and now my tinnitus is barely noticeable 33% of the time, loud and annoying 25% of the time and the other 42% or so it's just a little annoying... My jaw currently only probably opens 80% of the way and I have a slight hitch in it when its open and I try to close it. The dentist/TMJ guy said it's slight. We will see, if this guy can't help no one can. I also go to the neck specialist in a few days.

However I think the root cause or start of my tinnitus was my neck and that could and did affect my jaw with the TMJ.

 

Agree - Probably so.

For me after several years with neck and jaw injuries - arthritis of neck and jaw - need for me to be careful with neck posture and opening jaw too wide.

 

@Greg Sacramento Well as I said before I went to a TMJ specialist and he was really good. He slightly adjusted my splint to make it a tad less tight. He trimmed it so the bottom front teeth weren't touching the hard splint causing those teeth to move and lastly he recommended a posture corrector.

As of last night the back of my neck is way less tight. Before I couldn't even grade the skin back there now it feels normal and my range of motion up and down (especially up) has improved a ton. I still get this weird click and cracks when I look up.

Could any of those things the TMJ expert did help my neck?

MOST IMPORTANTLY MY TINNITUS HAS BEEN VERY VERY LOW AND NOT BOTHERSOME THE LAST 8 DAYS WHICH IS UNCOMMON. The very low tinnitus feels like it is in a different spot in my head too... I'm very hopeful for the first time in 3 years and I'm excited to start physical therapy in 3 weeks.

 

Hi, @Greg Sacramento. I have a question for you, if you don’t mind. I really value your insight. My tinnitus has worsened over the past few months. No excess noise exposure or really anything I can associate to the worsening. However, my jaw on the right side clicks excessively all day (same ear as my tinnitus). It often clicks when I chew, yawn, or sometimes if I move jaw a little without even opening. Do you think a TMJ splint may be beneficial in reducing muscle tension and possibly alleviating the tinnitus? Also, my dentist said I show signs of minor bruxism, likely when I sleep. Thank you in advance.

 

@Emgee - upper mouth guard should help you - 2mm, but you will need to practice mouth posture beyond this article. Don't pull lower jaw forward. Keep tongue centered and not pushing on teeth. Don't bite lips. You should be fine eating (see article) and brushing teeth, but don't open mouth super wide.

If you need dental work on back teeth, schedule a little more time, so you can rest your mouth every couple of minutes for a minute. Use a hand over chin to support lower jaw.

One problem that's seldom mentioned is not to use forward head posture with a mouth guard in place. Be careful for now, with extreme forward head posture.

https://heydoctor.org/jaw-pain-on-right-side.html#:~:text=Causes of Right Jaw Pain. These are the,gum (excessively) Trauma. Physical injury – falling, accidents

• Cold applications (ice pack wrapped in a towel) – can help with the swelling and inflammation
• Warm applications (compress or heated towel) – can help to relax the constricted muscles of the jaw

 

Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it. My dentist did impressions on me for a custom splint. It should be ready next week.

I’ve been using both the cold and warm applications. Haven’t gotten any relief yet, but I’m hoping things will start to improve. Tinnitus is off the charts. Plus, it’s reactive which makes it even worse.

 

The splint will work, but it may take a few months before it does what it is supposed to.