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Does your jaw sound like a popcorn machine every time you move it? Does it click whenever it opens, closes, or moves from side to side? This can happen for many reasons, and while some of them are innocuous, a few are not. If your jaw consistently pops and you experience any of the following symptoms, then it might be time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
When Should You Be Concerned About Jaw Clicking?
You don’t need to pay the occasional pop or click any mind unless you also exhibit some of the following symptoms:
- Jaw pain
- A jaw that is difficult to open or close
- A jaw that becomes stuck opening or closing
- Frequent headaches/migraines
- Ear pain
- Neck pain
- Facial pain
- Sleep issues/sleep apnea
- Problems eating foods that require a lot of chewing
- Tooth wear due to grinding
Jaw Popping & TMD
The part of your jaw that is popping is actually the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which you can feel right in front of your ears. It is made of a combination of bones, muscles, and cartilage just like every other joint in your body, so it can sometimes pop. However, it can also develop problems if it is out of balance, injured, or misaligned with how your teeth come together when your mouth is closed. This can place a lot of stress on the joint, leading to the unpleasant symptoms above. These constitute what is called a TMJ disorder or TMD.
What You Should Do
If any of the symptoms listed sound familiar, then you should go ahead and schedule an appointment with a dentist. They are trained to find imbalances between the teeth and TMJ so they can be corrected to relieve pain and prevent future issues.
Treatment is usually pretty straightforward. You may be given a small oral appliance to wear to bed or a few of your teeth might be slightly reshaped to balance your bite. Dentists can also provide immediate pain relief using a TENS machine or even Botox for overactive jaw muscles.
The truth is that while jaw popping and clicking are usually nothing to worry about, you definitely shouldn’t ignore pain. Working with your dentist can help you determine the source of your discomfort AND remove it so you have one less thing on your mind!
About the Author
Dr. Sara Saba is a dedicated dentist located in Silver Spring who is renowned for providing her patients with an outstanding dental office experience. As the leader of the Exceptional Dentistry Pain and Sleep Solutions team, she offers a range of treatments to help patients overcome TMJ disorder. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Saba or get more information on TMJ disorder, contact our office at (301) 871-6660 or visit our website.