Why Does My Jaw Pop When I Chew? Causes & Fixes
If the issue “why does my jaw click when I chew?” is your ongoing worry, you might wonder whether to do something about it. Persistent jaw clicking can point to problems with a temporomandibular joint and manifest in bothersome discomfort when talking, chewing, or yawning. To prevent long-term damage, learn the causes of these sounds (jaw injury, bruxism, bite problems, etc.) and professional ways to treat them. Relief can come from home remedies and lifestyle changes, night guards, physical therapy, medications, or surgery, depending on your case. Read this post and talk to your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause of jaw popping and treat it right.
What Does It Mean When Your Jaw Pops or Clicks When You Chew?
To discover why does my jaw pop when I chew, let’s refer to the TMJ anatomy. It is separated by the articular disc into two cavities with distinct moving patterns. The superior joint features gliding movement, while the inferior joint is characterized by rotary shifting. A clicking jaw when chewing signifies that parts of the joint aren’t gliding smoothly as they naturally should. This condition causes specific sounds—from slight clicks to tangible pops. It can happen at any age, but most cases occur between 20 and 40 years.
5 Common Causes of Jaw Popping When Chewing
Jaw clicking can appear for a number of reasons, mainly related to TMJ malfunction.
- TMJ Disorder (TMD)
Temporomandibular joint disorders comprise a group of deviations in TMJ operation, such as a breakdown in the rotational function of the disc, its displacement, TMJ’s hyperextension, and more. Jaw clicking often comes with tangible pain, headaches, and earaches. Discomfort can spread either on one or both sides of your face.
- Teeth Grinding and Clenching (Bruxism)
Grinding and clenching teeth overload your jaw and TMJ, which can result in inflammation, soreness, and grating sensations. Bruxers can do it unconsciously at night and face significant discomfort when awake. To distinguish between TMJ disorder vs. tooth pain, read our expert theme-based article.
- Jaw Injury or Trauma
Given the temporomandibular joint’s flexibility, it’s highly vulnerable to trauma or injury. An abrupt jolt or direct blow to the head can damage the joint, leading to recurrent popping and pain.
- Arthritis in the Jaw Joint
TMJ can develop arthritis, which manifests in joint pain, stiffness, swelling, or infection. The bones can rub, causing crackling or grinding sounds when you open your mouth or chew.
- Teeth Misalignment or Bite Problems
Malocclusion, or uneven bite, can make your jaw work harder, resulting in popping over time. That’s why it’s important to have your teeth properly aligned when you bite down, which is possible through modern orthodontics—braces or more advanced Invisalign treatment.
Is Jaw Popping Always a Cause for Concern?
If you find your jaw pops every time I chew, wondering what’s going on and whether it’s a matter of concern is natural. Examine different types of popping:
- Normal. When you widely open your mouth, jaw popping is considered normal and is caused by a lower jaw hyperextension.
- Alarming. This type of popping involves cartilage-like disc displacement. It commonly occurs quietly when closing your mouth. The disc slips forward of the lower jawbone and causes a louder crack when you open your mouth again.
While the first condition in the jaw joint is typical and considered harmless, the second is usually painful, so you should have a professional examination as soon as possible.
Other Symptoms That Often Come With Jaw Popping
Oftentimes, a patient faces more symptoms of jaw popping than “Why does my jaw crack when I chew?” Let’s learn these signs.
- Jaw Pain or Soreness
Jaw pain, inflammation, or tenderness in the surrounding tissues can point to a problem with your temporomandibular joint. Facial pain can worsen after taking meals and hinder eating.
- Headaches and Earaches
Headaches and earaches can occur abruptly and cause lasting discomfort. You can also experience neck or eye pain.
- Locked Jaw or Limited Movement
You might feel that your jaw has gotten stuck and find closing your mouth troublesome. Jaw popping can come with tight sensations when opening your mouth and a one-sided jaw movement pattern.
How Is the Cause of Jaw Popping Diagnosed?
To accurately diagnose the cause of jaw popping, a doctor usually collects your medical and dental history and examines your jaw, head, and neck:
- Palpates the jaw and neighboring muscles for signs of discomfort;
- Evaluates how your jaw moves and detects whether popping or grinding sounds are present;
- Checks your bite;
- Assesses if past injuries, medical conditions, or dental interventions could cause TMJ disorder.
Your healthcare provider can also ask for X-rays and CT scans to get a more detailed picture of your TMJ and adjacent structures.
Treatment Options for Jaw Popping When Chewing
Experiencing “jaw popping when I chew” is a clear sign you should see a qualified dentist who treats TMJ-type issues. Treatment depends on the condition’s severity and can range from simple lifestyle adjustments to surgery in severe cases.
- Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
Mild jaw popping that happens for the first time can go away if you stick to healthy habits, including:
- Quit frequently chewing gum;
- Stop biting your fingernails;
- Keep away from hard and chewy foods;
- Prefer a softer diet;
- Don’t clench your teeth and use a night guard to give your jaw a break;
- Try relaxation techniques to ease jaw tension;
- Apply heat to soothe your jaw or use ice packs to decrease joint swelling (only if your doctor prescribes it).
Keep in mind that these measures should become a matter of discussion with your healthcare provider, especially when it comes to hot or cold compresses on the jaw area.
- Night Guards and Splints
A custom-made occlusal guard can help protect your jaw from lasting pressure at night, saving your teeth from premature wear. Dentists recommend this device for bruxism and contact sports, such as rugby or hockey.
- Physical Therapy
Physical therapy offers nonsurgical procedures and specific exercises to improve jaw function and alleviate pain:
- Jaw exercises and techniques to treat TMD;
- Massage of the muscle knots in the jaw for relaxation;
- TENS therapy—placing the electrodes onto the skin to let electrical impulses provide brief relief from jaw pain;
- Radio wave therapy—a minimally invasive medical procedure used to stimulate blood flow and the jaw joint;
- Restorative dentistry treatments.
The last option covers such means of general dentistry as crowns, bridges, and dental implants and orthodontic techniques to position your teeth more favorably.
- Medication
Your dentist may prescribe certain medications to treat jaw popping and the accompanying symptoms:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to handle pain and inflammation;
- Antidepressants to lessen anxiety;
- Muscle relaxants to loosen the pressure in your jaw.
Never engage in self-medication and consult a professional if you are inclined to treat any health condition with drugs.
- Surgery (Severe Cases Only)
These surgical methods are applied to mend or reposition the TMJ:
- Joint aspiration, or arthrocentesis, helps to remove excess fluid in swollen or inflamed jaw joints.
- Arthroscopy. A minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves using a camera to examine the joint space from inside and treat TMJ issues without making big incisions.
- Arthroplasty. A surgeon reshapes the articular surface of the TMJ and repositions, repairs, or removes the articular disk when needed.
If the word “surgery” raises your dental anxiety, note that these options are suggested only in severe cases. Sometimes it’s best to address the problem at its root rather than waste time on ointments, praying they will work out.
How to Prevent Jaw Popping
If the cause of jaw popping is related to skeletal abnormalities, you can’t prevent the condition. In other cases, you can minimize the risks by trying to keep your jaw relaxed and slightly apart. Avoiding harmful habits, such as biting your fingernails or excessively chewing gum, can help alleviate the strain on your jaw and reduce the noise. Eating softer foods instead of hard, crunchy, and tough ones also promotes relief, and wearing a night guard protects your teeth from grinding and clenching.
When to See a Dentist About Jaw Popping
Jaw clicking, especially followed by pain, is not something to be ignored. You don’t have to endure discomfort and wait till it passes on its own. Sometimes it doesn’t, and the delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment can develop into a serious issue, such as an inflammatory condition, arthritic degeneration in the joint, or changes in your bite.
Pay attention to the following signs:
- Jaw pain doesn’t subside.
- You have trouble closing your jaw.
- It pops while chewing or yawning.
An experienced doctor can perform a professional examination and pick up treatment so that your jaw restores its functionality. If jaw popping happens for the first time, you can wait 1–2 weeks for it to pass. If it happens repeatedly, it might signify that your body needs help to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jaw Popping When Chewing
Why does my jaw pop but doesn’t hurt?
This can happen because part of your temporomandibular joint may be worn down or functioning improperly. Normally, the jaw can pop while opening your mouth widely or yawning because of overextension. If there’s no pain, you shouldn’t worry about it.
Is jaw popping on one side normal?
It can be a sign of TMJ disorder. The jaw clicks when chewing on one or both sides of your face. You can discover whether it’s normal for sure during a dental appointment.
Why does my jaw click when I open my mouth?
Your jaw clicks when opening your mouth due to a specific reason, such as joint cartilage slipping out of place, persistent stress, teeth clenching, bite misalignment, arthritis, and more. To find a specific cause and get corresponding treatment, it’s reasonable to consult a medical professional.
Can jaw popping go away without treatment?
Only if it’s a normal type of jaw popping (please refer to the section “Is Jaw Popping Always a Cause for Concern?”). In the remaining cases, it can be a TMD symptom, which can damage your jaw, cartilage, and bone if not treated on time.
Additional Resources
If you have sleep bruxism, learn about its correlations with temporomandibular disorders to benefit your health in the long run.
