Jaw popping refers to a clicking sound from the jaw, which can be accompanied by sensations of pain. The sound is caused whenever the mouth is opened or closed. Jaw popping is common in both children and adults due to minor conditions that are usually treated with conservative methods.

Jaw popping is quite a common phenomenon that most people experience at some point in their lives. There may be various reasons for the occurrence of jaw clicking, including injury to the face or jaw area, bruxism, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a general term that refers to pain, dysfunction, restricted movement in the temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone in the skull, and allows for movement in various directions, including back-and-forth. The muscles of the jaw are also attached to the temporomandibular joint. TMJD can lead to difficulty chewing or speaking, headaches, an inability to open the mouth fully, clicking sounds when moving the jaw, and sensitivity to touch.

Fast facts on jaw popping:

• Jaw popping without accompanying pain is not typically a cause for concern.
• If certain health conditions underlie the popping, medical intervention may be needed.
• The cause of jaw popping is not completely understood.
• Jaw popping can often be treated at home, especially if there is no pain or other symptoms

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), formerly known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, is an umbrella term for pain, dysfunction, and limited movement of the joints located in the jaw. Because this disorder does not cause any noticeable symptoms in most cases, it can be challenging to diagnose.

• pain and discomfort
• tenderness in the face or jaw
• difficulty opening the mouth wide
• jaws that “lock” in an open or closed position
• difficulty eating
• facial swelling
• toothache
• headache
• neck ache
• earache

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is one of the most common disorders of the mouth. People with TMD often experience jaw pain, headache, clicking or popping when opening or closing their mouth, and limited range of motion.

Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is a painful condition involving different parts of the jaw. This syndrome is often characterized by pain in the jaw, particularly the ear-to-jaw, teeth clenching, or headaches that are affected with certain jaw movements. A typical sign of Temporomandibular disorder is earaches, which is most commonly noted in the right ear.

In Physical Therapy cedar grove, It has experience a jaw pop or a popping noise from time to time, typically from yawning or chewing. In most cases these noises are normal and not indicative of a serious problem. In fact, many people pop their jaw quite naturally before going to sleep at night as a way to relax and release tension in the jaw muscles.

• grinding the teeth
• chewing gum regularly or excessively
• nail-biting
• clenching the jaw
• biting the inside of the cheek or lip

Physical issues in the mouth and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can also play a role in jaw popping. If you have excessive jaw popping, it may be an indication of joint damage.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the most common disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Arthritis is actually a general term used to describe more than 100 different types of illnesses that cause pain, stiffness and swelling of joints. The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) suggests that arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, affects approximately 46 million people in the U.S. with an estimated $128 billion spent each year on joint injuries.

The temporomandibular joint is a complex area that works very hard to allow us to chew, speak, and move the mouth. It allows us to yawn, smile, frown, talk, and chew. When there are problems in this joint it can be very painful, frustrating, and difficult to function normally every day.

Other symptoms of arthritis include: