Have you noticed any clicking or popping in your jaw while chewing food, yawning, or opening and closing your mouth? While occasional jaw noises may not be a cause for concern, persistent or painful symptoms could indicate an issue. If you’re curious what that could mean for you, continue reading. You’ll explore the causes of jaw clicking and popping, including TMJ disorder and when to see a dentist.
What Causes Jaw Popping and Clicking?
Jaw noises such as popping and clicking can be caused by multiple factors including:
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
The temporomandibular joint, which connects your jawbone to your skull, can be overworked, leading to jaw popping or clicking. TMJ disorders often result from teeth grinding (bruxism), misalignment of the jaw, or trauma to the jaw joint.
Disk Displacement
Within the temporomandibular joint, there is a small cartilage disk that cushions the joint and eases smooth movement. If this disk becomes displaced or dislocated, it can cause clicking or popping sounds when you move your jaw.
Muscle Tightness or Imbalance
Tension or imbalance in the muscles surrounding the jaw joint can also cause jaw popping or clicking. This may occur due to stress, poor posture, or habits like jaw clenching.
Arthritis
Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint, leading to jaw noises along with pain and stiffness.
When Should I See a Dentist?
The occasional jaw sound without other symptoms shouldn’t cause concern. However, you should talk to your dentist if you experience any of the following:
- Pain or Discomfort: Persistent pain or discomfort in the TMJ, face, or neck, especially if it’s hard to chew or open your mouth fully.
- Locking of the Jaw: If your jaw locks or becomes difficult to open or close completely.
- Changes in Bite: Noticeable changes in the way your teeth fit together could indicate an overworked or weakened TMJ.
- Swelling or Inflammation: Swelling, tenderness, or inflammation around the jaw joint.
- Limited Jaw Movement: Difficulty moving your jaw when speaking or experiencing jaw stiffness.
Understanding why your jaw is making clicking or popping sounds is the first step to avoiding the painful consequences. If you notice more of these sounds or feel pain around your jaw joint, call your dentist. They can evaluate you for a TMJ disorder and recommend the best treatment options for your case. With effective treatment, your pain will be lifted, and you’ll reclaim your quality of life.
About the Practice
If you’re looking for dental experts who can treat TMJ disorder with compassion and skill, Rauchberg Dental Group has a whole team of them. They use state-of-the-art dental technology and techniques to treat TMJ disorder and provide other high-quality dental treatments all under one roof. Call (973) 718-9887 to schedule an TMJ disorder consultation or visit the website to explore other services they provide.