Why Does My Jaw Click When I Move My Mouth?

Close-up of a man in a suit looking down while wiping a tear from his eye as he cries due to a painful popping jaw

It can be uncomfortable and even painful dealing with a jaw that clicks and pops when you talk, eat, smile, and yawn. But what causes it? Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ). They connect your jawbone to the skull, and create a hinge-like action that allows you to move your jaw up and down and side to side. When the joints aren’t functioning properly, that’s when popping and clicking can occur. There are a variety of factors that can cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Here are some of the most common reasons!

  1. Overbite, Underbite, or Crossbite
  2. One of the main problems that leads to jaw popping is a misaligned bite. Whether it’s an under, over, or crossbite, if your jaw isn’t properly positioned, you can run into problems such as lockjaw, jaw popping, frequent biting of your inner cheeks, discomfort when chewing, and more. Luckily, this issue can be easily treated with braces or another orthodontic option.

  3. Sleep Apnea
  4. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes a person to stop breathing periodically throughout the night. This disorder can lead to issues including jaw popping, daytime drowsiness, headaches, snoring, and more. Some forms of sleep apnea can be treated with a custom mouthpiece that repositions your jaw while you sleep to keep your airway from collapsing.

  5. Teeth Grinding & Clenching
  6. Some people clench their teeth when they’re under stress, and others unconsciously clench and grind their teeth while they sleep. Whichever category you fall under, grinding and clenching can wear down the surface of your teeth, tighten the muscles around your temporomandibular joints, and even lead to TMJ damage from long-term strain. If it’s determined that you suffer from grinding and clenching, you may need to look for ways to manage your stress levels, and see Dr. Nguyen to get a custom mouthguard that will protect your teeth.

We Will Help Resolve Your Jaw Discomfort!

If you’re struggling with a painful, clicking jaw, contact our office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Nguyen will examine your jaw, take X-rays, diagnose the problem, and create a personalized treatment plan to help you get back to enjoying life with a healthy, fully functioning jaw.

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Patient Reviews

Karoline PammerKaroline Pammer
20:52 30 Mar 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are extremely competent, friendly and professional. He is very thorough and explains everything very clearly. Finally I feel like I am in good hands when it comes to dental care.
Matt SmithMatt Smith
21:18 05 Feb 22
Great overall experience getting a dental cleaning. Very friendly staff, beautifully designed office, and a comfortable experience watching calming Netflix nature programming while in the chair. Complimentary beverages are in the waiting room and so is a little play area for kids.It felt to me that this was a patient-focused family practice as opposed to a cold, corporate dental mill trying to churn through as many patients as possible.I’ll definitely be coming back here for all my dental needs and I highly recommend.
Sundup SherpaSundup Sherpa
22:07 02 Feb 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are very welcoming and they provide an excellent experience every time I visit. I’ve only been here twice for annual checkups but would definitely consider and recommend this place to anyone who appreciates good customer experience and a very thoughtful approach to making sure that you feel at home. I have some procedures set up for later in the month and I must actually be the only person in the world actually looking forward to a dentist appointment.
Jayrockem GottemJayrockem Gottem
21:27 09 Nov 21
Great place wonderful staff they will be my go too dentist 100%
shawaf alishawaf ali
22:08 26 Aug 21
Very confident after leaving the office that my teeth are in greatttt hands. Above and beyond patient care. Very informative visits. A sense that they genuinely care about patient concerns. Added helpful guidelines I took home with me to reach dental hygiene goals before my next visits. Highly recommended you leave your old scary dentist ! 😁😁
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Queensboro Plaza Dental Care

Queensboro Plaza Dental Care