Is your jaw clicking when chewing? You might be alarmed to hear a clicking sound coming from your jaw as you eat your meal. A popping jaw can be a sign of many health conditions, including TMJ disorders. In this blog, we will discuss the possible causes of a clicking jaw and more. Continue reading to learn!
Why is My Jaw Clicking When I Eat?
If your jaw clicks when you eat, it is often due to TMD, which is a condition that affects the function and movement of your jaw. You should talk to an oral health provider if your jaw hurts when you chew, and it is affecting your eating. Here is an insight into possible reasons behind jaw clicking when you are chewing:
- Misalignment of the TMJ: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull. So, when it becomes misaligned, it can result in clicking sounds when you move your jaw.
- Jaw Injury: If you have an injured jaw, it can cause structural damage to the TMJ and lead to clicking or popping sounds when you move your jaw.
- Teeth Grinding: Bruxism or teeth grinding, can apply excessive pressure on your TMJ, leading to jaw clicking and other symptoms.
- Stress & Tension: The muscular tightness around your jaw increases when you are going through stress or strain. This can lead to clicking sounds and discomfort in your jaw.
- Arthritis: Another reason behind jaw clicking is joint deterioration due to arthritis. This can affect your TMJ and cause clicking sounds.
You should talk to a dentist or a healthcare provider if your jaw is clicking when you chew, whether it is with or without pain.
Clicking Jaw Treatments
There are many approaches to treating a clicking jaw in traditional dentistry. As for holistic dentistry, it focuses on treating the whole body rather than just the symptoms. While both approaches might be effective, clicking jaw treatment with holistic dentistry usually includes gentle jaw exercises, massage therapy, posture correction, and more.
Gentle jaw exercises can improve mobility and alignment, while professional massage therapy helps relieve muscle tension and improve blood flow. The dentist might also use customized appliances when necessary to prevent teeth grinding and clenching, reducing your jaw clicking and other symptoms.
In some cases, meditation and relaxation techniques are also effective in managing stress and reducing muscle tension. They might even work on correcting your posture to improve your jaw alignment and relieve the strain on your TMJ.
The holistic dentist will evaluate your condition in detail and create a custom treatment plan for you to address your unique needs.
Final Takeaway
If your jaw is clicking when you are chewing, it could be a sign of TMJ disorder, pressure from teeth grinding, the effect of jaw injury, and more. You can consult a holistic dentist to treat your clicking jaw by focusing on the root cause of the problem.
Whole Health Dental Center is your trusted provider of dental solutions. Contact our team at (703) 385-6425.