Is it normal for your jaw to crack

A TMJ expert will be able to provide not only immediate relief, but can also teach you various stretches and exercises to provide long-term, lasting pain relief.

The outlook for a TMJ disorder depends on a few factors. Many cases of TMJ disorder respond to simple, conservative treatment and the prognosis is good. If a chronic, underlying health condition such as an autoimmune disease is thought to be the cause, then how well this condition is managed can play a role in how or if TMD progresses, and to what extent.

In either case, proper diagnosis and treatment from a TMJ expert can help prevent pain and discomfort and limit further TMJ damage from occurring. Yes and no. When you open your jaw wide, such as during a deep yawn, the lower jawbone passes over a ridge in the upper jawbone. This may produce a popping or clicking sound, which is usually nothing to be alarmed about. This can result in TMJ disorder and you should seek diagnosis and treatment.

Avoid opening your mouth extra wide. Avoid TMJ overuse by limiting or stopping gum chewing, crunching on ice, and eating lots of hard or chewy foods. Get treated for conditions that may contribute to jaw popping, such as bruxism tooth grinding , which overworks the TMJ. One the scarier symptoms of TMJ disorder is the jaw locking in an open or shut position. A popping sound followed by a locked jaw typically signifies the disc has slipped out of the TMJ, which prevents it from moving and functioning properly.

If your jaw is sore after popping, it may be due to the ligament that controls the disc being stretched, or the muscles that control jaw movement being affected and possibly inflamed due to TMD. In general, mild cases of TMJ disorder and jaw popping can be fixed with conservative treatment measures under the care of a TMD expert such as Dr.

Katherine Phillips. A popping jaw may be the sign of a serious TMJ disorder and if left untreated, your condition could worsen. Fortunately, TMJ experts like Dr. Phillips can work with you closely to provide both immediate pain relief and lasting solutions. Suite The Woodlands, TX Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain. Home Meet Our Experts Dr. Katherine Phillips Dr. Skip bubble gum and foods that require a lot of chewing.

Make sure that you are not clenching your jaw during either the day or at night. Relax your jaw if you are. Try taking smaller bites and chewing less food at once. Use a hot or cold pack for instant pain relief and to relax muscles.

Use over-the-counter pain or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to provide relief. Reduce stress and thus muscle tension. Potential medical treatments for popping jaw include: Bite Orthotics - A custom bite orthotic made to your specific diagnosis can help relax jaw muscles and reduce the strain on the joint complex, allowing the joint to heal. How can I keep prevent my jaw from popping?

Should I be concerned that my jaw is popping on only my right or left side? Why does my jaw pop and then lock up? Is it possible to permanently fix my jaw popping? Medical Reviewer: Dr. About The Author. By Dr. Because jaw popping is linked to joint disc displacement, it can lead to jaw damage in a number of ways. First, this displacement stretches the ligament. Plus, it puts the ligament between the bones. This damages the ligament and may make it hard for the disc to slip back into place. As the bones grind, they can release tiny shards that irritate other tissues, leading to swelling, pain, and limited jaw movement.

There are many reasons why you might not experience clicking or popping associated with TMJ. In other cases, you may have progressed beyond the point where your cartilage is slipping back into place. This is called a closed lock or anterior displacement without reduction. The goal of any jaw pain or TMD treatment is to relieve the pain, restore normal function and to identify any underlying causes if present. However, any clicking of the jaw will probably not go away which is OK since clicking alone is not pathological.

Recommended treatment modalities are:. Trigger point injection or dry needling to help alleviate painful tight muscles. So in summary, there is no need to worry if your jaw clicks.

Temporomandibular joint disorders' impact on pain, function, and disability. J Dent Res. We are thorough, compassionate and have many tools at our disposal to help. If you are located outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you can find a practitioner in near you on the website of The American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Choose a doctor who is listed as Diplomate.

His practice focuses on TMJ disorders, facial pain, persistent toothache pain, headaches and sleep related breathing disorders. Read More. Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site? Go to accessible site Close modal window. Don't need the accessible version of this site? Hide the accessibility button Close modal window. Accessibility View Close toolbar. RSS Feed. Should I be worried if my jaw clicks? Jaw clicking You may have noticed that when you are eating or when you yawn, your jaw clicks.

Symptoms to look out for As previously mentioned, if your TMJ clicks, that is not something you immediately need to do anything about unless if you also notice other signs, then you should get it evaluated by your dentist or an Orofacial pain specialist.