TMJ & the Shape of a Mouthpiece

[Matt P]

I finished my AOW cert on Sunday. I noticed that by the last dive my right ear was starting to hurt. By Sunday night the pain had grown pretty intense. It felt full and like it was throbbing. I couldn't even sleep. I finally saw a doc today. He said there's no infection or build-up therefore it is TMJ. TMJ? Um...ok, maybe. Does TMJ feel like your ear is full? I've never had it before.

I will admit I'm a new diver and bite the hell out of my regulator when stressed. That is the likely cause if it is TMJ.

So - this is my question to you divers who have\do suffer from TMJ. Have you found any way to eliminate or reduce the pain you feel by diving induced TMJ? Have you found that a specific regulator mouthpiece shape works better tha another?

I dive a D400 with small mouthpiece. The D400 is a heavy reg IMO. The mouthpiece only extends to my canine teeth. I've seen others that exten further back in the mouth. Would that help?

What do you think?

 

[Amazon]

I have TMJ - although flare ups are very far apart. I developed some pain after diving with a stock mouth piece.

I have an Atomic reg. So this spring I bought a "Comfort" mouthpiece. Swapped out the old for the new, and wow! What a difference! My jaw feels so relaxed with the reg in my mouth. No more pain or jaw fatigue. I would highly recommend that you replace your standard mouth piece. I was lucky and was quite happy with the first one I tried.

I know there are other ones out there. But I can only comment on this one.

Good luck!




Atomic Dual Silicone "Comfort" Mouthpiece
At Atomic, our engineers and award-winning designers are always listening to diver's requests for product upgrades and enhancements. One such request was for a mouthpiece that would be both durable and comfortable. The result is the popular dual-silicone mouthpiece that was introduced with the M1 regulator earlier this year.
Made from two types of silicone material, this mouthpiece is incredibly durable, yet easily one of the most comfortable mouthpieces a diver will ever use. It's so popular, in fact, that Atomic Aquatics is now offering it as an option for ANY Atomic Aquatics regulator. See your local Atomic dealer for more information about upgrading to the new Atomic "Comfort" mouthpiece today.

 

[ChillyWaters]

So this spring I bought a "Comfort" mouthpiece.

While I'm not familiar with TMJ, I will also suggest buying a comfortable mouthpiece. Just get one that "rests" in your mouth, instead of requiring you to "bite" down on it. It shouldn't require _any_ effort to hold a mouthpiece in your mouth.

A good mouthpiece is _very_ comfortable. It costs a bit more, but they should last a couple of years, so it's no big deal.

- ChillyWaters

 

[mfalco]

Was the water cold an shallow?

When I dive one particular location with cold shallow water I get similar symptoms in my right ear, but not quite as bad.

 

[paulwall]

I finished my AOW cert on Sunday. I noticed that by the last dive my right ear was starting to hurt. By Sunday night the pain had grown pretty intense. It felt full and like it was throbbing. I couldn't even sleep. I finally saw a doc today. He said there's no infection or build-up therefore it is TMJ. TMJ? Um...ok, maybe. Does TMJ feel like your ear is full? I've never had it before.

I will admit I'm a new diver and bite the hell out of my regulator when stressed. That is the likely cause if it is TMJ.

So - this is my question to you divers who have\do suffer from TMJ. Have you found any way to eliminate or reduce the pain you feel by diving induced TMJ? Have you found that a specific regulator mouthpiece shape works better tha another?

I dive a D400 with small mouthpiece. The D400 is a heavy reg IMO. The mouthpiece only extends to my canine teeth. I've seen others that exten further back in the mouth. Would that help?

What do you think?

I have a class 3 underbite, as well as TMJ. The only way for me to comfortably hold a regulator in my mouth is with a comfo-bite mouthpiece that is molded for my jaw. I tell buddies in an OOA situation to go for the octo, because my primary is not coming out of my mouth easily.

 

[sharkattack]

Try a sea-cure moth piece

 

[DiveMaven]

I'll second the suggestion for SeaCure. You boil and bite it, making it a custom fit mouthpiece. You then trim it to the length you want. I no longer have to hold onto my mouthpiece, it stays in because it fits perfectly in the grooves of my teeth so my mouth can stay relaxed.

 

[Matt P]

Was the water cold an shallow?

When I dive one particular location with cold shallow water I get similar symptoms in my right ear, but not quite as bad.

Yes - definitely cold, but no more that usual. Water temp was in the low 50's - had a dry suit. It wasn't particularly shallow - 90 ft?

 

[mwhities]

I don't have any problems like the ones moted above, but I'm about 2 minutes away from setting up my SeaCure mouth piece.

Michael

 

[Matt P]

...but I'm about 2 minutes away from setting up my SeaCure mouth piece. Michael

Agreed - my mouthpiece is suspect. I'll swap it out before my next dive. I probably need to relax a bit more, too. I really chomp on that thing when I get nervous or stressed during a dive.