Why is My Jaw Clicking?

Jaw clicking usually happens when the small cartilage disc inside your jaw joint slips slightly out of place and then pops back as you open or close your mouth. If the clicking is painless and your jaw opens and closes normally, it is usually nothing to worry about. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) explains that clicking or popping in the jaw joints without pain is common, is considered normal, and does not require treatment.

Clicking deserves a closer look when it comes with pain, locking, or trouble opening your mouth, because those can be signs of a temporomandibular disorder, often shortened to TMD. At Imagine Dentistry at the Arboretum in South Charlotte, Dr. Ann Blaine Coambs evaluates jaw symptoms as part of our TMJ disorders care. She has completed continuing education through The Dawson Academy in bite analysis and TMJ care, and she starts with the most conservative options first.

What Is Happening Inside a Clicking Jaw?

Each temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, connects your lower jaw to your skull just in front of your ear. Between the rounded end of the jawbone and the socket sits a small, flexible disc that cushions movement and lets the jaw both hinge and slide forward. The TMJ is one of the most complex joints in the body, and it works together with the muscles and ligaments that move your jaw forward, backward, and side to side.

When that disc sits slightly forward of its usual position, the jawbone can bump over its edge as you open, which creates a click, and slip off it again as you close. Many people live with this kind of painless click for years without it getting worse. Other common sources of jaw sounds include loose or overworked jaw muscles, uneven movement between the left and right joints, and, less often, wear or arthritis inside the joint, which tends to produce more of a grinding or grating sound than a single click.

What Is TMD?

TMD is the umbrella term for problems affecting the jaw joints and the muscles that control chewing. The NIDCR estimates that TMD affects about 5 percent of adults in the United States and is about twice as common in women as in men. For most people, the exact cause is not clear, and it often involves a mix of factors such as a jaw injury, clenching or grinding habits, stress, and how a person’s body processes pain. The term TMJ technically refers to the joint itself, although many people use it to describe the disorder too.

When Is Jaw Clicking a Sign of a Problem?

A click on its own is rarely the concern. What matters is what comes with it. Your dentist can help make a proper diagnosis by taking a complete medical and dental history, conducting a physical examination, and taking imaging when it is needed. Consider scheduling an evaluation if your clicking comes with any of the following:

• Pain in the jaw joint or chewing muscles, which the NIDCR identifies as the most common TMD symptom
• Pain brought on by yawning, opening your mouth widely, or chewing
• A jaw that gets stuck, locks open or closed, or will not open as far as it used to
• Clicking that suddenly stops along with new difficulty opening your mouth
• Headaches, earaches, or pain that spreads to your face or neck
• A sudden change in the way your upper and lower teeth fit together

If your jaw locks and you cannot open or close your mouth, contact a dentist or doctor promptly rather than waiting for a routine visit. For a broader look at jaw pain itself, see our article on TMJ disorder signs that call for professional treatment.

What You Can Do at Home

For painless clicking, the best approach is often simply to avoid making it worse. For clicking with mild soreness, simple self-care steps are the first line of treatment. Eating softer foods and cutting food into smaller pieces gives the joint a rest. Applying moist heat or a cold pack for short periods can ease muscle tension, and gentle jaw stretches can help when they do not cause pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as anti-inflammatory medications may help with short-term discomfort when used as directed.

It also helps to notice habits that load the joint. Chewing gum, biting your nails, resting your chin on your hand, clenching your teeth during the day, and opening very wide when yawning can all aggravate a sensitive jaw. Stress often shows up as daytime clenching, so relaxation techniques, posture awareness, and better sleep can make a real difference.

How Is TMD Treated?

The NIDCR recommends starting with conservative, reversible treatments, and that is the approach we follow. While there is no single cure for TMD, many people find their symptoms improve or settle with time and simple care. When self-care is not enough, your dentist may recommend one or more of the following options:

Custom oral appliance: A custom-made appliance, sometimes called a bite plate or splint, fits over your teeth and is usually worn at night. It reduces the harmful effects of clenching and grinding without permanently changing your teeth or bite. At our office, appliances are designed from digital scans taken with an iTero Lumina scanner.

Jaw exercises and physical therapy: Guided exercises can improve jaw movement and reduce muscle tension. For more involved cases, we coordinate with physical therapists who work with jaw and neck problems.

Medication and stress management: Your dentist or physician may recommend anti-inflammatory medications or, in some cases, prescription muscle relaxants for a short period. Counseling or relaxation training can help when stress and clenching are driving symptoms.

The NIDCR cautions that treatments which permanently change the bite, such as crowns, orthodontics, or grinding down teeth, do not have enough evidence behind them as treatments for TMD on their own, and that surgery should be considered only when the joint is severely damaged or symptoms remain severe after other treatments. If anyone recommends an irreversible treatment for jaw clicking, it is reasonable to ask about the risks and to seek a second opinion.

TMJ Evaluation at Imagine Dentistry at the Arboretum

At Imagine Dentistry, we see patients who have experienced pain in the jaw joint, headaches, neck pain, orofacial pain, tooth sensitivity, and muscle knots that develop as a result of jaw tension. Dr. Coambs performs a comprehensive bite analysis that looks at jaw muscle function, range of motion, any clicking or popping, tooth wear patterns, and how your teeth come together. Eating softer foods is one of the first recommendations we often give to patients experiencing jaw discomfort.

Dr. Coambs has completed advanced training in bite analysis, splint therapy, and occlusal equilibration, which is also called bite balancing. Any changes to the bite are considered only after a careful evaluation and after conservative care has been tried. If you have jaw clicking with pain or locking, request an appointment online so we can take a closer look. A physical therapist can also be a helpful part of your care.

Frequently Asked Questions