A clicking jaw is a sound that originates from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge connecting the lower jawbone (mandible) to the temporal bones of the skull, located just in front of the ears. This joint is frequently used, facilitating essential movements like talking, chewing, and yawning. The sound itself, which can be a click, pop, or sometimes a grating noise called crepitus, occurs during the joint’s movement. While jaw noises are common, they can signal underlying conditions that affect the proper function of this complex joint.
The Mechanics Behind the Clicking Sound
The smooth operation of the TMJ relies on the articular disc, a small, flexible piece of cartilage. This disc acts as a cushion and shock absorber between the jawbone’s ball (condyle) and the skull’s socket (glenoid fossa), gliding along with the condyle during movement.
A clicking sound is most often caused by disc displacement with reduction. The articular disc is slightly out of its normal position when the jaw is at rest. When the mouth opens wide, the jawbone’s condyle jumps over the back edge of the displaced disc to move into its proper place. This sudden movement generates the audible click or pop. A second, softer click can occur when the jaw closes and the disc slips back out of alignment.
Primary Conditions Associated with Jaw Clicking
The umbrella term for issues involving the jaw joint and its associated muscles is Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). Clicking is a frequent symptom of TMD, indicating a mechanical problem within the joint’s structure, often internal derangement where the articular disc is unstable or positioned abnormally.
Clicking can also be a sign of myofascial pain, involving the muscles controlling jaw function. Habits like clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxism) place excessive strain on the jaw muscles, contributing to disc displacement. Stress and anxiety are often linked to increased muscle tension and unconscious clenching, driving the development of TMD symptoms.
Degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, is another potential cause, wearing down the cartilage and roughening the joint surfaces. This wear can lead to clicking or a grating sound (crepitus) as the bones move against each other. Direct trauma or injury to the jaw can also damage joint structures or ligaments, leading to misalignment and subsequent clicking.
Assessing Severity and Accompanying Symptoms
For many people, the occasional jaw click or pop is an isolated event that causes no pain or restriction of movement. This asymptomatic clicking generally requires no treatment. However, if the clicking is frequent, painful, or accompanied by other symptoms, it suggests a more significant issue with the joint.
Pain is the clearest signal of severity, especially if it occurs when chewing, speaking, or waking up. Limited range of motion, or difficulty opening the mouth wide, is another important symptom to monitor. A particularly concerning sign is jaw locking, where the jaw gets temporarily stuck open or closed if the disc fully displaces.
Other symptoms that suggest a need for professional evaluation include:
- Chronic headaches.
- Earaches or a feeling of ear fullness.
- A persistent ringing in the ears.
Management and Professional Treatment Options
Initial management for jaw clicking often focuses on conservative, non-invasive home care to reduce strain on the joint. This includes eating a soft diet to minimize chewing effort and applying moist heat or ice packs to the jaw area to relieve muscle soreness and inflammation. Practices to reduce stress, such as relaxation techniques, are also helpful, as they can mitigate clenching and grinding habits.
If conservative measures are not effective, professional interventions are typically the next step, starting with the least invasive options. A dentist may recommend a custom-fitted oral appliance, such as a night guard or splint, to prevent teeth grinding and help stabilize the jaw position. Physical therapy that includes gentle stretching and specific exercises can improve jaw mobility and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
In some cases, medications like over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or prescription muscle relaxants may be used to manage pain and muscle tension. For persistent or severe cases, medical procedures like corticosteroid injections into the joint may be considered. Surgery is considered a last resort, reserved only for patients with severe symptoms or structural damage that has not responded to all other treatments.