Are you wondering what the clicking in your jaw means? Do you want to know how to fix it? If so, then this article is for you! In this article, we’ll discuss what clicking jaw means, its causes, and what it could indicate about your health. We’ll also discuss the medical condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), its symptoms, and how to treat it. By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of what is causing your clicking jaw and what you can do to address it.
What is Clicking Jaw?
A clicking jaw, also known as a popping jaw, is when the joint in your jaw makes an audible noise when you open or close your mouth. The sound can range from a faint click to a loud, solid pop. It can be accompanied by pain, stiffness, or even locking of the jaw. In some cases, the joint may actually lock for a few seconds before it pops back into place. The clicking jaw sound can come from the jaw itself or from the nearby muscles, joints, or ligaments.
What Causes Clicking Jaw?
Clicking jaw can be the result of several different factors, including injury, arthritic changes to the joint, certain medical conditions, and stress. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.
Injury: An injury to the jaw, such as a blow or a fall, can cause the joint to move out of alignment temporarily, resulting in a clicking sound. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may also experience swelling, bruising, or pain.
Arthritic changes: The joint in your jaw, known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), can develop arthritis over time, leading to clicking sounds and pain. These arthritic changes often result from wear and tear on the joint, as well as hormonal changes and genetic factors.
Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as a displaced disk of the TMJ, can also lead to clicking jaw. A displaced disk is when the pad of cartilage that separates the bones in the joint moves out of place and gets caught between the bones when you open and close your mouth. In addition to the clicking sound, you may also experience pain and muscle spasms.
Stress: Stress can cause you to clench or grind your teeth, which can put pressure on the temporomandibular joint and lead to clicking sounds. Clenching and grinding can also result in muscle pain, headaches, and tooth damage.
What Can Clicking Jaw Indicate About Your Health?
The clicking sound itself is not necessarily indicative of a serious health problem. However, in some cases, it may indicate underlying medical conditions that should be treated. These conditions include:
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ): TMJ is a chronic, painful condition that affects the joint in your jaw. Along with a clicking sound, you may also experience pain in the joint, as well as headaches, muscle spasms, and difficulty opening or closing your mouth. TMJ can also affect your sleep and cause you to grind your teeth.
Arthritis: As mentioned above, arthritic changes in the TMJ can lead to a clicking sound. In addition to the clicking, you may also experience pain in and around the joint, as well as stiffness and difficultly chewing.
Displaced disk: If you have a displaced disk in your TMJ, in addition to the clicking sound, you may also experience muscle spasms, and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
How Can You Treat Clicking Jaw?
The treatment for clicking jaw depends on the cause. If the clicking sound is the result of an injury, your dentist may recommend rest, ice, and over-the-counter painkillers to help relieve any pain and swelling. In some cases, a mouthguard may also be prescribed to help prevent clenching or grinding.
If the clicking sound is the result of TMJ or arthritic changes, your dentist may recommend a combination of treatments, including physical therapy, stress reduction, muscle relaxants, and over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. Surgery is usually only recommended in severe cases, when other treatments have failed.
If the clicking sound is the result of a displaced disk, your dentist may recommend a combination of treatments, including physical therapy, stress reduction, muscle relaxants, and over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. Surgery is usually only recommended in severe cases, when other treatments have failed. In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be done to repair the displaced disk.
Conclusion
Clicking jaw can be a bothersome and painful problem. In most cases, the clicking sound is not indicative of a serious medical problem. However, if the clicking sound is accompanied by other symptoms, then it may indicate TMJ, arthritis, or a displaced disk. If you are experiencing clicking jaw, then it is important to talk to your dentist to determine what the underlying cause is and what steps you can take to treat it. With the right treatment, you should be able to reduce or eliminate the clicking sound and the accompanying symptoms.
