When you can only hear a clicking sound on one side of your jaw, it can be surprising and alarming, particularly when the tendency is frequent or when it is combined with symptoms such as pain or stiffness. The clicking jaw is usually associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – the joint that links your skull with your lower jaw – and may happen due to a variety of reasons. If the problem continues, consulting a dentist On Mercer Island can help identify the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
Why is One Side of my Jaw Clicking?
One-sided clicking of the jaw can be brought on by several habits and medical conditions with most of them belonging to the group of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The symptoms may be mild or uncomfortable and one should be familiar with the most common causes:
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Bruxism – or grinding or clenching of the teeth – can occur and be unconscious most of the time especially when one sleeps. It may cause undue strain to the TMJ and muscles surrounding it and result in clicking of the jaw on one side or both. This repetitive strain which is also associated with daytime clenching in response to stress or anxiety aggravates symptoms with time.
Stress and Muscle Tension
Stress does not necessarily lead to jaw clicking but it may make the muscles of the jaw and neck tight hence making the muscles of the jaw work harder. This increased tension can affect the normal jaw movement and increase the tendency to click especially when combined with bruxism.
Disc Displacement
Each of the TMJs has a small disc of cartilage that binds the movement between the skull and the jawbone. Provided that this disc shifts out of place, then the jaw can also have a clicking sound when it slides back to place when the mouth is opened, or closed. As the disc falls back to its original position it may give a verbal click or pop. Continued migration may also result in suffering and movements.
Arthritis
The TMJ may suffer different forms of arthritis over the years like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is wear on cartilage around the joints and rheumatoid arthritis is inflammatory destruction of tissues around the joints. Both may also cause structural changes causing clicking on one side especially when one joint is more affected than the other.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is the inability of the upper and lower teeth to fit together. This poor bite position is capable of changing the movement of the jaw and putting pressure on the TMJ. In the long run, unequal weight distribution may lead to the side where more weight is applied.
Jaw Injury
Injuries to the face or jaw including a fall, blow or accident can impair the TMJ mechanics. Although the pain may disappear right after injury, a structural alteration is possible that causes clicking or popping motions in movement.
When Clicking Is Harmless
Not all clicking is unusual, such as a sound that you hear when you open your mouth very wide when you are yawning. Such clicking is not often related to any pain or dysfunction and seldom needs any treatment.
When to Seek Evaluation
Jaw clicking which occurs together with pain, stiffness, chewing difficulty, limitation of opening the mouth or popping which occurs repeatedly should be considered by a health professional.
