Why Your Jaw Keeps Clicking and What You Can Actually Do About It

That popping sound when you yawn. The click every time you chew. Maybe it comes with pain (but more likely without), but it’s annoying enough that you’ve found yourself more aware of it. Regardless, jaw clicking is one of those things that start as seemingly innocuous but eventually reaches a threshold where it’s hard to ignore. The reality is, jaw clicking happens to more people than you’d think. It’s not surprising, either, according to some reports, 10-15% of adults suffer from some form of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD), and the click is typically an early indicator. The challenging part? Not all jaw clicks are problematic, and neglecting certain symptoms can lead to additional challenges later on. Here is Why Your Jaw Keeps Clicking and What You Can Actually Do About It

What Happens When Your Jaw Clicks

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint where your jawbone connects to your skull. It’s one of the most complicated joints in your body, as it needs to accommodate all sorts of movement day in and day out, talking, chewing, yawning, and breathing through your mouth. Within this joint lives a soft disc of cartilage that cushions between the bones.

When all things function properly, the disc does not go out of place as you move your jaw. Yet when it displaces, it pops back into place when you open your mouth; that’s the click. And sometimes it clicks when you close your mouth as well. It’s essentially a game of musical chairs, some fat cushy chair that everyone wants to be on, but the chair is that disc of cartilage, and each ‘chair’ is a bone.

Not every click indicates a displaced disc, however. Sometimes ligaments around the joint become loose or stretched in addition to the surfaces being slightly uneven. All of this depends on age, genetics, and how much stress you place upon your jaw over a lifetime.

When Jaw Clicking is Harmless vs. Indicative of an Issue

And here’s the confusing part: some jaws continue to click over time without ever developing issues related to pain or their function. It’s merely the way it moves. For some people, however, clicking is just the first sign of many domino symptoms along a path toward greater discomfort.

Pay attention to whether the clicking comes with pain. If your jaw hurts when it clicks, or if you’re experiencing headaches, ear pain, or difficulty opening your mouth fully, those are red flags. Many families dealing with persistent jaw discomfort find that learning how to fix TMJ issues early prevents more invasive treatments later on.

If your jaw locks, that’s another bad sign. This happens when a displaced disc becomes stuck in place such that your jaw no longer moves comfortably. People can develop a locked-open jaw (or, no ability to close one’s mouth) or a locked-closed jaw (no ability to open fully). This situation usually requires intervention.

Finally, pay attention to your bite. If teeth no longer fit together like they once did or you find yourself constantly adjusting where your bite rests, something’s wrong. Sometimes this happens over time, which is easier to overlook until it’s quite pronounced.

Why This Happens in the First Place

Jaw issues seldom exist due to one root cause. More often than not, a collection of problems compounds over time to present this issue.

One of the biggest reasons someone may experience TMJ issues is through teeth grinding (bruxism). People grind their teeth at night without even realising it. You might wake up with a sore jaw or headache and never connect it back to what happened while you were sleeping. Nonetheless, that excessive pressure and movement can wear down joints and damage the crucial cushioning disc.

Stress plays a significant role in this factor, and not just because people grind their teeth. When people are stressed, they unintentionally clench their jaws throughout the day. You might catch yourself doing it as you read this right now. Chronic tightness exerts pressure on the joint continuously.

Injuries also influence TMJ issues, years after the injuries happen. An especially bad hit to the face from sports (or something else), whiplash from an accident or even strong dental interventions can knock bones from alignment, but sometimes the consequences don’t present until much later down the road.

And finally, while this isn’t as common in younger adults unless inflammatory conditions exist, arthritis does develop in TMJs like other joints throughout the body.

What You Can Do at Home

In many cases, those who suffer from TMJ issues can avoid specialists in favour of home care items that truly help.

First, give your jaw a rest. Avoid chewy, hard, or otherwise difficult-to-chew foods. Small bites cut into smaller pieces are best – but avoid gum altogether.

Second, ice or heat can be applied to the jaw area as well. Some find heat more relieving (soft compress or heating pad) while others prefer cold packs. Try both and determine what works best for you, heat relaxes tightened muscles while cold reduces inflammation.

Gentle mouth movements can also support, but be aware, don’t push it too far! Gentle exercises go a long way toward relieving tension and increasing flexibility, but gentle is key; forbidden painful movements only exacerbate existing issues.

Additionally, posture is an important factor. Slumping and forward head posture work against you; extra strain occurs on your jaw from a protruded neck effort (which many people do while staring at their phones/computers).

Finally, stress management matters more than you’d think. Whether that’s through meditation, exercise, or therapy, find ways to calm down, because when overall stress levels decrease, jaw stress often does as well.

When It’s Time for a Specialist

Some jaw issues can recover well with at-home care, but others need more focused attention from specialists. If it’s been clicking for weeks and never seems to improve or gets progressively worse, bring someone into the mix.

A dentist can assess your bite and look for signs of grinding as well as how your mouth moves; they can recommend mouth guards to protect teeth while easing pressure on the joint, not bulky sports bite guards, but more effective custom-fitted guards that bear small signs of TMJ wear.

There are physical therapists for jaws, and they do wonders. A lot of people learn how professionals can teach specific exercises and manual techniques for pain adjustment/reduction and improved function.

In some cases, more intensive measures become necessary, for example, injections or orthodontic expansion efforts or even surgery, but most people only deem this necessary at a later stage if they fail to take the easy route early on.

The Bottom Line About Jaw Clicking

Jaw clicking exists on a spectrum. For some people, it’s merely an annoying sound that never becomes anything more; for others, it’s an early sign of a safety precaution needing further attention. The goal? Determine where you fall in that spectrum.

If you find yourself paying more attention to patterns, has the clicking gotten worse? Have you developed pain? Are there certain foods you’re now hesitant to chew? These observations mean more than focusing on the clicking itself.

The sooner action is taken, means easier solutions at lower costs; who would want to have jaw surgery decades down the line when mouth guards and lifestyle changes could’ve easily prevented them? Your jaw does a lot for you every single day; might as well ensure its comfort by giving it some attention when it starts complaining.