What That Clicking in Your Jaw Really Means (And When to Worry)
It happens when you yawn, take a big bite of your sandwich, or sometimes just randomly throughout the day—that distinctive clicking or popping sound from your jaw. For some, it’s been happening so long it seems normal. For others, it’s a new and concerning development. At OrthoRehab Specialists, we help patients understand what these sounds mean, when they signal a problem requiring treatment, and how physical therapy can restore quiet, smooth jaw function.
Understanding Your TMJ Anatomy
To understand why your jaw clicks, you need to know the basic anatomy of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This complex joint connects your lower jaw to your skull and functions as both a hinge and sliding joint, allowing you to open and close your mouth, chew, speak, and express emotion.
The TMJ contains a small disc that cushions the joint surfaces, acting like a shock absorber between your jaw bone and skull. This disc normally moves in coordination with your jaw, sliding forward when you open your mouth and returning to position when you close. Surrounding muscles, including the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles, control these movements. Ligaments hold everything in proper alignment.
When these components work together properly, jaw movement is smooth and silent. But when something disrupts this coordination, that’s when you hear clicking, popping, or grating sounds.
The Science Behind the Click
Clicking in your jaw often results from disc displacement in the TMJ. This occurs when the cushioning disc moves out of its normal position, usually sliding forward of where it should be. As you open your mouth, the jaw bone (condyle) must move under the displaced disc, creating an audible “click” as it pops into place. When you close your mouth, you might hear another click as the disc slips forward again.
This is called “disc displacement with reduction,” meaning the disc is out of place but can still return to a functional position during movement. It’s the most common cause of jaw clicking and affects up to 35% of the population at some point in their lives.
Other causes of jaw sounds include:
Ligament laxity allowing excessive joint movement creates popping sounds. Arthritis causing cartilage wear and joint inflammation produces grating or grinding noises. Muscle incoordination where the muscles aren’t working in proper sequence can cause clicking. Malocclusion or uneven bite creating abnormal joint loading may lead to various joint sounds.
When Clicking Is Just Annoying vs. When It’s Concerning
Not all jaw clicking requires immediate treatment. Many people live with painless clicking for years without developing problems. However, certain signs indicate your clicking needs professional attention:
Monitor but don’t panic if you have:
- Occasional, painless clicking that doesn’t limit function
- Clicking that’s been stable for years without worsening
- Sounds that occur only with extreme jaw movements like maximum yawning
Seek evaluation when clicking is accompanied by:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, neck, head, or ear
- Limited jaw opening or closing range
- Jaw locking in open or closed position (even temporarily)
- Progressive worsening of sounds or symptoms
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Facial swelling or muscle tightness
- Recent changes in how your teeth fit together
The progression from simple clicking to more serious problems can be gradual. What starts as painless clicking can evolve into painful clicking, then limited opening, and potentially jaw locking. Early intervention can prevent this progression.
The Risk of Ignoring Progressive Symptoms
While painless clicking might not require immediate treatment, ignoring progressive symptoms can lead to complications. Disc displacement can worsen over time, potentially progressing to “disc displacement without reduction,” where the disc becomes stuck out of position and blocks normal jaw movement. This condition, sometimes called a “closed lock,” severely limits jaw opening and can be quite painful.
Left untreated, TMJ dysfunction may lead to:
- Chronic pain in the jaw, face, and head
- Accelerated joint degeneration and arthritis
- Permanent changes in bite alignment
- Compensatory muscle patterns causing neck and shoulder problems
- Difficulty with basic functions like eating and speaking
One patient shared: “I ignored the clicking for two years because it didn’t hurt. Then one morning I couldn’t open my mouth wide enough to brush my teeth. I wish I’d addressed it sooner.”
How Physical Therapy Addresses Jaw Clicking
At OrthoRehab Specialists, we use evidence-based approaches to address the underlying causes of jaw clicking. Our comprehensive TMJ evaluation includes assessment of joint mobility and disc position, range of motion testing to quantify restrictions, muscle palpation for tension or trigger points, postural assessment to identify contributing factors, and functional movement analysis to detect compensations.
Treatment focuses on recapturing normal disc movement and restoring proper joint mechanics:
Manual Therapy: Gentle joint mobilizations can help reposition the disc and improve joint glide. Our therapists use both intraoral and extraoral techniques to address joint restrictions. Myofascial release reduces muscle tension that may be pulling the disc out of position.
Therapeutic Exercises: Controlled opening and closing drills retrain proper jaw movement patterns. Specific exercises help recapture normal disc movement during function. We teach you exercises like placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth during opening to promote proper joint mechanics. Lateral glides and protrusion exercises improve overall joint mobility.
Postural Correction: Since neck and shoulder posture influence TMJ mechanics, we address cervical spine alignment and strengthen postural muscles. Poor forward head posture increases stress on the TMJ and can contribute to disc displacement.
Muscle Retraining: Coordination exercises help the muscles work in proper sequence, reducing abnormal forces on the disc. We may use biofeedback or mirror exercises to improve movement awareness.
Prevention and Self-Management Strategies
Whether you’re experiencing clicking now or want to prevent future problems, these strategies can help maintain healthy TMJ function:
Daily habits to protect your jaw:
- Avoid excessive gum chewing or eating very hard foods
- Don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages
- Maintain good posture, especially during computer work
- Manage stress to reduce clenching and grinding
- Sleep on your back or side rather than face-down
Simple exercises for jaw health:
- Gentle jaw stretches holding for 30 seconds
- Tongue-to-palate positioning during daily activities
- Relaxed jaw position with teeth slightly apart
- Self-massage of jaw muscles to reduce tension
When to Take Action
If you’re experiencing jaw clicking, don’t wait for it to become painful or limiting. Early assessment and intervention can prevent progression to more serious problems. Under Minnesota’s direct access law, you can begin TMJ physical therapy without a physician referral, receiving up to 90 days of specialized care.
Our experienced therapists will determine whether your clicking is benign or requires treatment, develop a personalized plan if intervention is needed, and teach you strategies to prevent future problems. Many patients find that just a few sessions of targeted therapy eliminate their clicking completely or reduce it to manageable levels.
Remember, clicking often results from disc displacement in the TMJ, and manual therapy and stabilization exercises help recapture normal disc movement. You don’t have to live with concerning jaw sounds or worry about what they might mean.
Concerned about clicking in your jaw? Contact us at our Edina (952.922.0330) or Minneapolis (612.339.2041) clinics for a comprehensive TMJ evaluation. Learn more about our approach on our TMJ Dysfunction page. Let us help you achieve quiet, comfortable jaw function.
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