My Jaw is Clicking. What to Know?

Sometimes, we hear clicking sounds from our jaws when we speak, eat, or yawn. This clicking sound from the jaw indicates temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). People with TMJ often experience symptoms like jaw muscle pain, earache, headache, and neck pain. TMJ can affect one or both sides of the face; depending on your condition, your health practitioner may recommend some remedies.

Types of Jaw Clicking

There are two types of jaw clicking or popping. The first one is when your mouth is stretched wide when you yawn. Such clicking sounds don’t indicate any jaw disorders and don’t require immediate medical attention.

This clicking or popping can also occur when you shut your mouth and then open it again, especially when eating or talking. It happens when the cartilage cushioning the jaw joint, AKA articular disk, slides out of place.

Why Does My Jaw Click?

Your jaw might pop or click for the following reasons.

●       Teeth clenching or grinding (Bruxism).

●       Excessive gum chewing or biting fingernails.

●       Arthritis

●       Malocclusion

●       Skeletal abnormalities within the jaw joint.

●       Muscle tension due to stress or anxiety.

●       Trauma from a sports injury or accident.

●       You have inherited TMJ.

Ways to Deal with Popping Jaws

Lifestyle Changes

Give up on habits like the following.

●       Chewing gum

●       Nail biting

●       Eating chewy candies

●       Munching on ice

At-Home Remedies

●       Using ice packs onto the jaw to reduce swelling in the jaw joint.

●       Soothing your jaw with a hot-water bag.

●       Using a mouthguard to prevent clenching and grinding.

●       Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate inflammation.

Non-Surgical Treatments

●       Trigger Point Massage

●       Physical therapy for TMD

●       Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

●       Radio wave therapy

Surgical Treatments

●       Arthrocentesis: Removal of excess fluid in the jaw joint.

●       Arthroscopy: A camera is inserted into the jaw through a small incision to determine the problem's root cause.

●       Arthroplasty: Replacement, removal, or repositioning of the jaw joint.

Final Word

If your clicking jaw bothers you, Orthodontics Of The Black Hills is the place for you. Besides TMJ treatment, we also offer clear aligners and treatment for sleep apnea. Rather than searching “TMJ specialist near me,” visit our website or call (605) 663-4865.