[Health Column] Should You Suspect Temporomandibular Joint Disorder If the Cracking Sound in the Jaw Repeats?

 

hello, Director Shin Eun of Plant In Dental Clinic is. 🦷
If you hear repeated clicking or grinding sounds in your jaw when opening your mouth or chewing food, you may worry that there is a problem with your joint. Today, we will guide you through the causes of recurring sounds in the jaw joint, related lifestyle habits, and the pain and movement changes you should observe along with the friction sounds, as well as how to manage the condition.

 

🔍 Today's Key Point
The important thing is Not concluding that it is a temporomandibular joint disorder based solely on the fact that a sound is heard. Rather than focusing on the volume of the sound, please check if pain has developed, if mouth opening has decreased, or if the jaw catches or locks.

 

① Can temporomandibular joint disorder be diagnosed based solely on the friction sound of the jaw joint?

If you repeatedly hear clicking or grinding sounds from your jaw joint when opening your mouth or chewing food, it is easy to worry that there might be a problem with the joint. However, Temporomandibular joint disorder is not diagnosed solely on the basis of the fact that a sound is produced.

 

Painless clicking or popping sounds are common, and the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) also Painless jaw joint sounds generally do not require treatment. He explains.

 

What is important is what changes occur along with the sound. If you experience pain when chewing food, cannot open your mouth fully, or repeatedly feel your jaw catching or locking, it is necessary to examine the function of the temporomandibular joint and the surrounding masticatory muscles.

 

Inside the jaw joint, there is something that helps with the movement between the lower jawbone and the skull. joint disc Clicking or friction sounds may occur as the joint, disc, and surrounding muscles move together during jaw movement. However, the cause of the sound and its clinical significance may vary depending on accompanying symptoms.

 

📌 When you open your mouth, the lower jawbone moves, and the articular disc moves along with it.

 

② Do jaw usage habits such as teeth grinding and clenching also have an impact?

If you experience easy fatigue or discomfort around your jaw due to repetitive jaw usage habits, you should check for them. If you grind your teeth while sleeping or repeatedly clench your teeth unconsciously during the day... masticatory muscles remain tense for a long time You can do it.

 

Chewing gum for a long time or frequently eating tough foods are also behaviors that increase the time spent using the jaw. An evidence review of temporomandibular joint disorders in the Journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians also introduces self-care methods to reduce repetitive behaviors such as clenching teeth, grinding teeth, and chewing gum.

 

A tendency to chew food on one side or a habit of resting one's chin on one hand can also be considered when checking one's usual jaw usage patterns. However, This single habit alone cannot explain the cause of temporomandibular joint disorder. It is a good idea to examine the situations in which symptoms occur, such as whether the jaw feels stiffer in the morning or if the discomfort worsens after chewing food for a long time.

 

📌 Clenching your teeth, resting your chin on your hand, chewing gum or tough foods for a long time, and chewing on one side are reference points when checking your usual jaw usage patterns.

 

③ What changes should be checked along with jaw joint sounds?

In temporomandibular joint disorders, in addition to jaw sounds Pain, stiffness, limited mouth opening, or jaw locking This may occur. When yawning, your mouth may not open wide or you may feel a sensation of your jaw catching, and pain or discomfort may occur when chewing food.

 

If pain or limited mouth opening recurs along with jaw clicking, it is helpful to examine the location of the pain and changes in jaw movement.

 

Discomfort around the jaw may extend to the face or neck, or be accompanied by headaches. Some also experience tinnitus or dizziness, but Since the causes of these two symptoms are diverse, they should not be explained solely by temporomandibular joint disorder.

 

🔍 Checking daily jaw usage patterns
Recurring jaw pain when opening the mouth wide or chewing food
— It is necessary to check if jaw movement and pain occur together.
□ I feel like my jaw gets stuck or doesn't open easily when I yawn.
— It may be a change related to limited jaw movement or locking.
□ The area around my jaw often feels stiff when I wake up in the morning.
— It may be related to straining the masticatory muscles due to teeth grinding or clenching during sleep.
□ I often unconsciously clench my teeth.
— Repeated strain on the masticatory muscles can lead to increased fatigue around the jaw.
Chewing gum or tough foods for a long time easily tires the jaw.
— Repetitive chewing activities can increase the use of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
My jaw feels more stiff on days when I take a long time to eat or talk a lot.
— You can examine whether there is a pattern in which symptoms worsen after increased jaw usage.

※ This checklist is not intended for self-diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder. Please use it as a reference to identify in what activities or situations jaw discomfort recurs.

 

④ How is the temporomandibular joint examination conducted?

The condition of the jaw joint is not judged based solely on the sound. Time of symptom onset, location of pain, jaw movement, condition of masticatory muscles We check these together. During the examination, we can check how far the mouth opens, whether there is pain or sound when moving the jaw, and whether there is tenderness in the joint and surrounding muscles.

 

Imaging tests are not necessary for all cases of temporomandibular joint friction sounds. They may be considered as needed if the diagnosis is unclear or if structural changes within the joint are suspected. CT scans primarily examine changes in the bone In examining, MRI is soft tissues such as joint discs It is used to evaluate.

 

The occlusal state of the teeth is also a factor that can be checked during the treatment process. However, You should not conclude that poor occlusion is the cause of temporomandibular joint disorder solely because of it. It is important to examine the condition of the joints, masticatory muscles, jaw movements, and lifestyle habits together.

 

⑤ How can I manage my jaw joint to reduce the burden?

When you experience discomfort in the jaw joint or masticatory muscles Management to reduce strain on the jaw It is often considered starting from this point. Avoiding chewing gum or excessively tough foods for a long time, and reducing the habit of unconsciously clenching teeth, are included in basic lifestyle management methods.

 

Depending on the symptoms, choosing soft foods, applying hot or cold compresses, or performing jaw exercises within a moderate range may be utilized. Even with the same temporomandibular joint discomfort, the necessary management methods may vary depending on the severity of pain, limitations in movement, and the duration of symptoms.

 

💡 When teeth grinding or clenching occurs repeatedly during sleep, oral devices such as splints may be considered.
However, oral appliances are not applied uniformly to all temporomandibular joint disorders, and as a general rule, methods that permanently alter the teeth or occlusion should be avoided.

 

📌 Reduce tough foods, avoid clenching your teeth, apply warm compresses, and avoid opening your mouth too wide

 

⑥ Jaw Joint Friction Sounds: What Should You Look For Rather Than the Loudness?

Just because the clicking sound in the jaw joint recurs does not mean that the joint is continuously being damaged. Rather than how loud the sound is Whether new pain has developed, whether mouth opening has decreased, or whether the jaw repeatedly catches or locks. It is important to check together.

 

You can check if you habitually clench your teeth and try to reduce habits that increase jaw usage, such as chewing gum or tough foods for extended periods. Observing when your jaw feels most uncomfortable can also help identify lifestyle patterns that place repetitive strain on it.

 

When managing the jaw joint, rather than focusing excessively on the sound itself Examining pain, changes in movement, and daily jaw usage habits together This is important.

 

 

💭 I'm curious

Q. Does a grinding sound in my jaw mean my joints are wearing down?

A. You cannot determine that your jaw joint is wearing down based on the sound alone. Since jaw joint sounds can be caused by various factors, it is important to check for accompanying functional changes, such as pain, limited mouth opening, or jaw locking.

 

Q. Do I need treatment even if my jaw clicks but doesn't hurt?

A. It is common to hear only a sound without pain or limited movement, and treatment is not required based on the sound alone. We can then monitor for any changes in pain or jaw movement.

 

Q. Can grinding teeth put a strain on the jaw joint?

A. Grinding or clenching your teeth during sleep can cause repetitive strain on your masticatory muscles. If your jaw frequently feels stiff or fatigues easily in the morning, you may also want to check if you have habits such as teeth grinding or clenching.

 

Q. If the jaw joint friction sound gets louder, does that mean the condition has worsened?

A. It is difficult to determine that the condition of the temporomandibular joint has worsened based solely on the loudness of the sound. Rather than focusing on changes in the sound, it is important to check for the onset of new pain, reduced mouth opening, or symptoms such as the jaw catching or locking.

 

🦷 Wrap-up

Even if there is a friction sound in the jaw joint If there is no pain or limited movement, temporomandibular joint disorder is not diagnosed based on sound alone.

 

Habits that involve repetitive use of the jaw, such as clenching, grinding teeth, and chewing gum, can increase the burden on the jaw joint and masticatory muscles.

 

If jaw clicking is accompanied by pain, jaw locking, or limited mouth opening, it is important to examine changes in jaw function rather than just the volume of the sound.

 

Plant Dental Clinic
Director Shin

- Graduated from Chosun University School of Dentistry
- Chosun University Professional Master of Dentistry
- Completed the Integrated Dentistry Specialist Program accredited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Regular member of the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry (KAED)
- Regular member of the Korean Academy of Periodontology
- Regular member of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
- OSSTEM AIC BASIC MASTER COURSE completion
- OSSTEM AIC ADVANCED MASTER COURSE completion
- Completion of OSSTEM AIC ADVANCED PROSTHETICS COURSE
- Completed University of Pennsylvania Endodontic Training Course
- Completed APEX Endodontic Training Course
- Completed temporomandibular joint disorder training

 

📚 The medical content of this column was written by referring to patient information on temporomandibular joint disorders from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and an evidence review of temporomandibular joint disorders from the American Family Physician.