I know this is easier said than done but you need to tell them “i am having issues with my jaw, it is giving me pain and i want to get it treated now before it becomes a bigger issue later”, if they continue to deny you maybe you should look into switching doctors or outside help because what the patient says goes, your in pain they need to listen to you. For pain it gets really tough, I don’t like taking aleve and ibuprofen because i hate the way it makes me feel so i usually try to keep cold packs on the side that hurts the most which helps alleviate some swelling and pain. My jaw usually gets stuck shut/hurt too much to open so my solution has been to put my mouthguard in and try not to talk or chew, give your jaw a break. eat soft foods that don’t need chewing, try not to talk, and keep ice packs around. i’m pretty young too and my TMJ only started acting up since i was 16 (im about to be 21) so i haven’t really been able to find a perfect groove to alleviate pain i would get a mouthguard, i tense up when anxious and clench as well as in my sleep so having the mouthguard has really helped avoid more flare ups. i hope i could’ve helped you somehow, i know the pain is just so awful and when it happens i just want to remove my jaw completely. i hope your doctors will listen to you because i was told it’s better to catch it and treat it sooner than later much love ❤️

I find it ludacris that your doctors are telling you you're too young for it to really be a problem. I had my TMD diagnosed when I was 8 yrs old! All I can say is the previous reply had a lot of good advice. Acupuncture/acupressure may be a good thing to try out if you have access to that. I also practice relaxing my body, starting with my head, neck, and jaw multiple times a day. I try to be mindful of any times I might be clenching my jaw, like stressful times, and practice relaxing it. I hope you can find a doctor, specifically an orthodontist even, that will take you seriously. I wish you the best of luck.

Tmj usually a jaw split I was given jaw exercises because of underlying conditions, cut back on caffeine, eat softer food, no popcorn, don't chew gum. That's what I suggest from the packet I got for tmj.