Jaw popping, or clicking, occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw to the skull, moves out of alignment. This sound can range from a quiet click to a loud snap. While an occasional pop might be benign, frequent or painful clicking is often a symptom of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD).
Understanding Why the Jaw Pops
The temporomandibular joint functions like a sliding hinge, connecting the temporal bone of the skull to the mandible. Within this joint is a small, oval-shaped cartilage disc that acts as a cushion and shock absorber. This disc is supposed to remain positioned directly on top of the rounded end of the jawbone, called the condyle, throughout the full range of motion.
The most frequent cause of jaw popping is disc displacement with reduction. This happens when the cushioning disc slips forward out of its normal position when the mouth is closed. As the mouth opens, the condyle pushes the disc back onto its correct position, creating the distinct “pop” or “click” sound. When the jaw closes, the disc may slip forward again, sometimes resulting in a second, quieter click.
Other factors can contribute to the noise, including degenerative changes like arthritis or joint wear. Muscle tension, particularly from involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth (bruxism), can also place excessive force on the joint structure. This strain can alter the disc’s movement, leading to noisy and sometimes painful joint function.
Immediate Relief: Self-Care and Lifestyle Adjustments
For many people, stopping jaw popping involves conservative self-care and modifications to daily habits. Giving the jaw a chance to rest and heal is a foundational approach to reducing strain on the TMJ. This involves consciously training the jaw to maintain a rest position where the teeth are slightly separated, rather than touching or clenching.
Dietary changes can significantly reduce the workload on the jaw muscles and joint. Temporarily switching to softer foods, such as yogurt, scrambled eggs, or cooked vegetables, minimizes the need for heavy chewing. Avoid tough, chewy foods like steak, hard candies, or crunchy items, and cut food into small, manageable pieces before eating.
Applying temperature therapy can offer immediate relief from inflammation and muscle soreness. Placing a cold pack wrapped in a thin cloth on the affected area for about ten minutes can reduce swelling and dull pain sensations. Following this with moist heat, such as a warm, damp washcloth, for fifteen to twenty minutes can help relax tight jaw and facial muscles.
Habit modification is another powerful tool for managing symptoms at home. Avoid unnecessary jaw movements like chewing gum or biting on fingernails or pen caps. When yawning or sneezing, use a clenched fist placed gently under the chin to support the jaw and prevent it from opening too widely. Gentle, restricted-movement exercises, such as controlled opening and closing without allowing a full range of motion, can also help retrain the muscles.
Recognizing When Professional Care is Needed
While self-care measures are effective for many mild cases of jaw popping, professional evaluation is necessary if symptoms persist. If the popping noise is consistently accompanied by persistent pain that lasts longer than two weeks, consult a healthcare provider. Pain that interferes with speaking, chewing, or sleeping suggests the condition is progressing beyond minor irritation.
An inability to open the mouth fully, or a sensation that the jaw is locking in an open or closed position, indicates a more severe mechanical dysfunction. This symptom, known as trismus, suggests the disc is significantly displaced or the joint is inflamed, requiring prompt attention. Severe, frequent headaches, dizziness, or earaches that occur alongside the jaw symptoms also warrant a professional diagnosis.
The first point of contact is typically a general dentist or a primary care physician, who can assess the severity and refer to a specialist if needed. If self-care strategies have been diligently followed for two weeks with no noticeable improvement, professional intervention is the next appropriate step.
Professional Treatment Options for TMD
When self-care measures prove insufficient, medical and dental professionals offer a range of prescribed treatments for TMD. The most conservative options involve prescription-strength medications to manage pain and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be prescribed to reduce joint swelling, while muscle relaxants may be used temporarily to alleviate muscle spasms caused by clenching or grinding.
For mechanical issues, a customized dental appliance is often the primary treatment. These devices, commonly called splints or orthotics, are custom-fitted to the upper or lower teeth and worn primarily at night. The goal is to stabilize the jaw, reposition the joint, and prevent teeth grinding, thereby reducing the strain that contributes to disc displacement and popping.
Physical therapy is another non-invasive intervention that can strengthen jaw muscles and improve joint mobility. A therapist can teach specific exercises to stretch and relax the muscles, alongside techniques like ultrasound therapy or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to relieve tension. TENS uses low-level electrical currents to stimulate the jaw muscles, reducing pain and promoting relaxation.
In rare cases where conservative treatments fail and structural damage is severe, more advanced interventions may be considered. These include steroid injections directly into the joint to reduce localized inflammation. Surgical options, such as arthrocentesis, which flushes the joint with fluid, or arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure, are reserved for cases involving significant joint degeneration or chronic, unresolvable locking.