Every time you open your mouth to eat, yawn, or speak, you hear it—a distinct click or pop from your jaw joint. Sometimes it is loud enough that others can hear it. Sometimes it is accompanied by a grinding sensation. You have been living with it for months or even years, and you are starting to wonder: is this normal, or is something seriously wrong?
Jaw clicking and popping are among the most common symptoms of TMJ disorders, affecting millions of people. The good news is that clicking alone, without pain, is often not a cause for immediate concern. However, it is a sign that something is not quite right with your jaw mechanics, and understanding what is happening can help you decide whether you need to take action.
What Causes the Click or Pop?
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in your body. It functions like a hinge, but it also slides forward and backward. Between the bones of the joint sits a small disc of cartilage that acts as a cushion and helps the joint move smoothly.
When everything is working correctly, this disc stays in position between the bones as your jaw opens and closes. But when the joint is misaligned or the muscles are imbalanced, the disc can slip out of its proper position. The clicking or popping sound you hear is the disc snapping back into place as your jaw moves.
There are two common patterns:
Clicking on Opening: The disc is displaced when your mouth is closed. As you open your mouth, the disc pops back into its correct position, creating the click. This is called “disc displacement with reduction.”
Clicking on Closing: The disc is in the correct position when your mouth is open, but as you close your mouth, it slips out of place, creating the click.
When Clicking is Not a Concern
If your jaw clicks or pops but you experience no pain, no locking, and no limitation in how wide you can open your mouth, it is generally not an urgent problem. Many people live with painless clicking for years without it progressing to something more serious.
In these cases, the clicking is more of a nuisance than a danger. It is a sign that your jaw mechanics are not perfect, but it is not necessarily causing damage or requiring immediate intervention.
When Clicking is a Red Flag
However, there are situations where clicking should be taken more seriously:
Clicking with Pain: If the clicking is accompanied by pain in the jaw joint, face, or temples, it indicates that the joint is under stress and inflammation is present. This requires attention.
Clicking with Locking: If your jaw sometimes gets stuck in an open or closed position and you have to move it side to side to “unlock” it, this is a sign that the disc displacement is becoming more severe.
Clicking That Gets Worse Over Time: If the clicking is becoming louder, more frequent, or starting to be accompanied by grinding or grating sensations, the joint may be degenerating.
Clicking That Suddenly Stops: Counterintuitively, if your jaw has been clicking for a long time and then suddenly stops, this can be a bad sign. It may mean the disc has become permanently displaced and is no longer able to pop back into place. This is called “disc displacement without reduction” and often leads to limited jaw opening and increased pain.
The Progression: From Clicking to Locking
Jaw clicking often follows a predictable progression if left unaddressed:
Stage 1: Intermittent Clicking
The disc occasionally slips out of place, causing a click, but it easily returns to its correct position. There is no pain or limitation in movement.
Stage 2: Consistent Clicking
The disc slips out of place every time you open or close your mouth. The clicking is predictable and constant, but still painless.
Stage 3: Clicking with Pain
The constant displacement of the disc begins to cause inflammation and pain in the joint. You may also start to experience muscle tension and headaches.
Stage 4: Intermittent Locking
The disc sometimes gets stuck in a displaced position, causing your jaw to lock temporarily. You have to manipulate your jaw to get it to unlock.
Stage 5: Permanent Displacement (Closed Lock)
The disc becomes permanently displaced and no longer pops back into place. The clicking stops, but your jaw opening becomes limited, and pain often increases.
Not everyone progresses through all these stages, but understanding the pattern can help you recognize when it is time to take action.
What You Can Do About Clicking and Popping
If you are in the early stages (painless clicking), the goal is to prevent progression. Here are the most effective strategies:
Reduce Jaw Stress
Avoid activities that put excessive stress on your jaw joint, such as chewing gum, eating hard or chewy foods, clenching your teeth, or opening your mouth excessively wide (like during a big yawn or at certain appointments).
Practice Jaw Exercises
Gentle strengthening and stretching exercises can help stabilize the joint and improve muscle balance. The goldfish exercises (partial and full opening) are particularly helpful for clicking because they train the jaw to move smoothly without the disc slipping.
Improve Your Posture
Poor posture, especially forward head posture, can contribute to jaw misalignment and clicking. Work on keeping your head aligned over your shoulders and practice chin tucks regularly.
Use a Physics-Based Mouthguard
A well-designed mouthguard can help guide your jaw into a more balanced position, reducing the stress on the joint and the likelihood of disc displacement. A flexible, physics-based guard like Reviv is particularly effective because it allows for natural movement while supporting proper alignment.
Unlike rigid guards that can sometimes make clicking worse by locking the jaw in a stressed position, a flexible guard adapts to your jaw’s needs and encourages healthier mechanics.
Manage Stress
Stress leads to clenching, which increases pressure on the joint and makes disc displacement more likely. Incorporate stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and regular exercise into your routine.
When to Seek Professional Help
You should consult with a specialist if:
- Your clicking is accompanied by significant pain
- Your jaw locks frequently or for extended periods
- Your jaw opening is becoming limited
- The clicking suddenly stops after years of being present
- You are experiencing other symptoms like dizziness, ear pain, or severe headaches
A specialist can assess the severity of the disc displacement and recommend appropriate interventions, which may include physical therapy, specific exercises, or in rare cases, more advanced treatments.
Can Clicking Be Reversed?
In the early stages, it is sometimes possible to reduce or eliminate clicking through consistent exercise, posture correction, and the use of a well-designed mouthguard. The goal is to retrain the muscles and improve joint alignment so that the disc stays in its proper position.
However, once the disc is significantly displaced or the joint has undergone structural changes, the clicking may become permanent. Even in these cases, the focus shifts to preventing progression and managing symptoms rather than eliminating the click itself.
Living with Clicking: A Practical Approach
If you have painless clicking that is not progressing, you may choose to simply live with it while taking preventive measures. This is a reasonable approach as long as you stay vigilant for signs of progression.
Continue to practice good jaw habits, use a supportive mouthguard at night, and check in with your jaw regularly. If things change—if pain develops, locking occurs, or the clicking worsens—take it as a sign to be more proactive.
Conclusion
Jaw clicking and popping are common, and in many cases, they are not a cause for alarm. However, they are a sign that your jaw mechanics are not optimal, and they should be monitored. By understanding what causes the clicking, recognizing the warning signs of progression, and taking preventive action, you can protect your jaw health and avoid more serious problems down the road.
Concerned about your jaw clicking? Discover how a physics-based mouthguard can help stabilize your joint and prevent progression. Join our community to hear from others who have successfully managed their clicking and popping.
