Mouthguard

[MSK 0]

I have had problems with TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) since I was kid but for some reason my last few jumps have really aggravated it. Maybe I'm clenching my jaws and I'm not aware of it or maybe it's from my body positioning at opening.... I'm not sure. My question is can you wear a mouthguard when skydiving? Does it create any kind of safety issue? Thanks

[topdocker 0]

I have been a dentist for 20, doing tmj work for the last fifteen of so, jumping th ewhole time. Tmj can definitely be aggravated by jumping, wearing a helmet with a tight chin strap, or even the effects of opening shock.

Make sure you have a splint that is comfortable, allows you to breath, yell if necessary and can be removed fairly easily. I'd also like one that makes you hold your lower jaw slightly forward when you clench, to de-stress the joints.

I think as you get more jumps and relax more, you'll find the you need it less. It may even be something wierd like wearing the rig makes you lean forward which stresses your neck, which leads to stress in your jaw joint.

Why don't you just have your tmj evaluated and treated? I've treated plenty of cases and know it can be done easily and without surgery.

top

Jump more, post less!

[silent_pumpkin 0]

I can't comment on whether it is safe to wear one during freefall, maybe if you had a full-face helmet...

My response lies in your at-home care. I suffer from major teeth grinding at night and have to wear a Rx nightguard (~$600) to keep my teeth from wearing to nubs. Prior to wearing this, I had bouts of pain during the day - eating, brushing my teeth, even heavy kissing - and my TMJ would feel inflamed. Now, it is barely noticeable.

SO! My question is whether you are doing anything to prevent further TMJ damage while at home - if you grind, do you wear a nightguard?

Best Regards.

[MSK 0]

Hmm.....I wonder if my chin strap is too tight. I did bring it up to my dentist. It was actually the reason I went in for an appt. I explained that I had problems with TMJ in the past but he brushed it off and contributed my jaw pain to a tooth that needed a filling. Fixed my tooth but I'm still having the problem so I go back next week. I did wear a splint when sleeping when I was younger because I would grind my teeth but I don't need it anymore because I stopped grinding. Thank you both for suggestions. I appreciate it.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

I did bring it up to my dentist. It was actually the reason I went in for an appt. I explained that I had problems with TMJ in the past but he brushed it off and contributed my jaw pain to a tooth that needed a filling.

In many professions, generalists sometimes fail to adequately recognize or deal with things that specialists recognize and deal with. If your dentist does not treat a lot of TMJ, you'd probably be doing yourself a service if you get a consult with a TMJ specialist.

[robskydiv 0]

Try one of those teeth/mouthguards worn by football players of all ages. Boil the water, place it in, take it out, put it in your mouth and clench down. It will form fit to your teeth. At least that's how it worked for me (way) back in the day.

[Harperd 0]

I have worn an athletic mouthguard on many dozens of jumps. On a bigway with a close-packed line exiting, I got kicked in the chin (despite wearing a full-face helmet) and bit most of the way through my tongue. It was painful enough that I started wearing a 'boil to fit' mouthguard like worn by football players and in other sports, depending upon my exit slot. I trimmed it down significantly so I could easily spit it out if I needed to yell out for some emergency. Never had a problem with it.