I hear about this daily at work. Seeing your dentist ASAP is a great idea, but until you can do that, taking something like Advil and applying moist heat can help with the pain. (hot, damp towel OR fill a sock with some uncooked rice, tie up the open end, and heat in a microwave for 2-3 minutes....make sure it's not too hot before applying it to your jaw!)
Things that can make the problem worse are hard/crunchy foods and chewy foods! Do stay away from gum!! Getting a hard nightguard from a dentist is best, because he will analyze your bite and make sure your teeth are taking on even amounts of force. Those over-the-counter mouthguards have a little give to them, and people have a tendency to actually sort of pump on them....causing more pain.
Sorry, but they aren't cheap! However, getting one will also help prevent you from wearing your teeth down over time. The nightguard will just wear down a little over time instead. I hope you are pain-free soon!
I certainly didn't expect a first post to be about TMJ! Thank goodness I have a 3rd jump coming up next weekend and the AOT boogie to go watch today!
