WELL.... I will tell you that your jaw isn't going to break and you aren't going to die.
Even if it is TMJ, it's not going to be something life threatening. I would suggest not chewing on gum until you see your doctor cause it could make it worse for ya.
I'll tell you another thing about me and how it didn't kill me
......
When I was a kid, I had a severe underbite. I had to wear this head thing that wrapped around my jaw and it was uncomfortable and embarassing. At one point, the doctor told my mom that I should have a surgery to correct it. I refused, because I didn't want to change the look of my face or have my teeth wired shut for a month. Over time, as I got older, it corrected itself slightly. If you look at my page and see the pics of me, you probably wouldn't guess that I had that problem. Either way, my teeth pretty much line up, but they're totally off centered from one another. My bite is all funky. As a result of that, I could get jaw pains, ear aches, my teeth have chipped and a whole host of other things similar to TMJ. And here I am - it hasn't killed me.
Once and a while I get jaw pains, but it's usually when I'm stressed and grinding. Since having the wisdoms out, I don't get the popping anymore, but who knows if it will happen again.
So THAT being said - If it hasn't killed me, it's not going to kill you.
The people on the board who have replied are also still with us!
p.s. I don't know how you're approaching it with your Grandma, but make sure you are being very business-like about your pain and how you would like to get it resolved. She probably wouldn't respond too well to any kind of whining or complaining (even if you feel it's valid!!)
Even if it is TMJ, it's not going to be something life threatening. I would suggest not chewing on gum until you see your doctor cause it could make it worse for ya.
I'll tell you another thing about me and how it didn't kill me
When I was a kid, I had a severe underbite. I had to wear this head thing that wrapped around my jaw and it was uncomfortable and embarassing. At one point, the doctor told my mom that I should have a surgery to correct it. I refused, because I didn't want to change the look of my face or have my teeth wired shut for a month. Over time, as I got older, it corrected itself slightly. If you look at my page and see the pics of me, you probably wouldn't guess that I had that problem. Either way, my teeth pretty much line up, but they're totally off centered from one another. My bite is all funky. As a result of that, I could get jaw pains, ear aches, my teeth have chipped and a whole host of other things similar to TMJ. And here I am - it hasn't killed me.
Once and a while I get jaw pains, but it's usually when I'm stressed and grinding. Since having the wisdoms out, I don't get the popping anymore, but who knows if it will happen again.
So THAT being said - If it hasn't killed me, it's not going to kill you.
The people on the board who have replied are also still with us!
p.s. I don't know how you're approaching it with your Grandma, but make sure you are being very business-like about your pain and how you would like to get it resolved. She probably wouldn't respond too well to any kind of whining or complaining (even if you feel it's valid!!)