Jaw popping and clicking- what can be done for it?

[luvflorida]

Anyone have any experience with jaw popping? For the past week or so, DD16 has had trouble with her jaw. She says she has to frequently "pop" it into place. I've heard her do it, and it sounds horrible. It makes a loud popping or clicking sound. She says it's worse when she first wakes up in the morning and when eating. A friend mentioned TMJ. I've researched it online and it sounds similar, but I'm not sure if that's the problem.

About four months ago, my daughter was doing something totally silly which resulted in her toppling over and smacking her chin on a hardwood floor. Her chin was bruised for quite some time. She thinks that may have caused harm to her jaw since she never had this issue before she fell on her chin.

I wish she had said something sooner, but it's only been the past few days that she has mentioned it to me. I've called the dentist, but their office is closed until Monday. I'll call first thing Monday morning to see about getting her an appointment to have her jaw looked at.

Until then, I'd love to hear from anyone that has experienced this. Is it something that we should really be worried about?

 

[Cool-Beans]

My jaw pops sometimes, all the time when I eat. Started when I was around 25-27. The dentist said he could break it and re-set it and it would probably stop popping OR I could live with it. I choose the latter.

He did say that it might hurt later in life and that if it does they can break it and re-set it then. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

 

[magicmato]

Sounds just like TMJ (I have it). You should have her go to the dentist and have him look at her. I have a nightguard I wear when I sleep so that I do not clench or grind my teeth and it has helped a lot. Good luck!

 

[SillyMe]

She might be grinding or clenching in her sleep, which is why it hurts more in the morning. It does sound like TMJ.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Sounds just like TMJ (I have it). You should have her go to the dentist and have him look at her. I have a nightguard I wear when I sleep so that I do not clench or grind my teeth and it has helped a lot. Good luck!

I got a nightguard, too! Forgot about that. Plastic thing that went over my teeth. Couldn't fall asleep with it on. Too distracting.

Then I got a more rubbery thing that just went over the front teeth. Same deal.

So, I pop.

 

[Aidensmom]

I actually had problems with that when I was about 20 caused by chewing gum constantly. My dentist had me stop my gum habit, and I rarely have a problem with it anymore.

It could be TMJ, I am sure your dentist will give you some good advice on Monday.

 

[MAKmom]

I was told in my 20 it was stress. I still can not open my mouth very wide. They wanted to break my jaw & fix it. I passed on that. I just cut my sandwiches into triangles so they fit in my mouth

 

[Blondie]

Mine started clicking when I was around 15 years old. It continued for another several years, then just stopped.

 

[magicmato]

I was told in my 20 it was stress. I still can not open my mouth very wide. They wanted to break my jaw & fix it. I passed on that. I just cut my sandwiches into triangles so they fit in my mouth

I used to have that. I could not open my mouth very far. It was horrid. The dentist made me a custom fit nightguard and boy, has it changed. I can open my mouth as far as I want and no more pain!

 

[luvflorida]

Sometimes it looks like she has a hard time getting the jaw back in place. I'm afraid she's going to have it pop and not be able to fix it.

 

[ElizK]

A trip to the dentist or oral surgeon is definitely in order! She may be causing more damage as time passes. Also, as someone else mentioned, make sure she's not chewing gum!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I actually had problems with that when I was about 20 caused by chewing gum constantly. My dentist had me stop my gum habit, and I rarely have a problem with it anymore.

My mom had an issue and get this...it was caused by eating gummy bears.

 

[belle&beast]

Try an oral surgeon or orthodontist who specializes in TMJ disorder. My dentist never even asked me about my jaw, but my orthodontist is always asking me about it!

 

[Aidensmom]

My mom had an issue and get this...it was caused by eating gummy bears.

That is even funnier than gum.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Sometimes it looks like she has a hard time getting the jaw back in place. I'm afraid she's going to have it pop and not be able to fix it.

When you say pop, do you mean locked?

One of my best friends has something that sounds exactly like what you describe. When she yawns, her jaw locks! She had to go to the ER when it first started happening. She quickly learned how they went about unlocking it. Then she taught her parents and me how to unlock it. I'd have to press down on her bottom back teeth with my thumbs and pull back (towards me) at the same time (same motion). She can do it herself now very easily and no one would know, she's that quick.

Her doctor also told her it was TMJ and he could break it and reset it. She passed too. There were times that it was painful, but I think it was mainly when her jaw was locked and she couldn't get it unlocked quickly.

I think it did get better for my friend over time, that combined with the knowledge of how to deal with it. She was about the same age as your DD when she was diagnosed. Hopefully, that isn't what your DD has and it's all just a fluke.

Is your DD taking anything for it? Motrin might help. Hope she gets some relief over the weekend.

 

[MAKmom]

I used to have that. I could not open my mouth very far. It was horrid. The dentist made me a custom fit nightguard and boy, has it changed. I can open my mouth as far as I want and no more pain!

Rats I wish I had not read this. The dentist has been bugging me for years to get a night guard because I grind my teeth. I know it will make be gag.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I have TMJ and am on my second nightguard. Can't sleep without that thing! I just gnawed through the first one and got the second. My jaw "locked up" one day and this is when I realized something was wrong. Lots of popping too. Dentist took one look and saw the clenching/grinding marks on my teeth. Nightguard worked! Not as many headaches now either!

DS (15) wears one too, his main symptom was chronic headache, and the nightguard took care of it. He too cannot sleep without the thing.

Dentist can adjust the nightguard to make it comfortable, I don't like any pressure on my teeth.

Our "health" insurance took care of the guards as they were for medical reasons.

 

[golfgal]

I had the same thing about 10 years ago, I would wake up in the morning and not be able to open my mouth for a good hour then it would click/pop all day. My dentist referred me to a TMJ specialist but before I could get in we moved so I never ended up going. It went away on it's own but it took a couple years, very strange though.

 

[luvflorida]

When you say pop, do you mean locked?

One of my best friends has something that sounds exactly like what you describe. When she yawns, her jaw locks! She had to go to the ER when it first started happening. She quickly learned how they went about unlocking it. Then she taught her parents and me how to unlock it. I'd have to press down on her bottom back teeth with my thumbs and pull back (towards me) at the same time (same motion). She can do it herself now very easily and no one would know, she's that quick.

Her doctor also told her it was TMJ and he could break it and reset it. She passed too. There were times that it was painful, but I think it was mainly when her jaw was locked and she couldn't get it unlocked quickly.

Yes, it sounds more like this! I've seen where she's actually used the palm of her hand against her jaw to help move it back into place. I'm seriously afraid her jaw is going to lock when her mouth is open and she won't be able to fix it.

Having a jaw broken and reset sounds awful. I hope there is a simple remedy for this. Many of you have mentioned using a nightguard at night. How does that prevent the jaw from popping during the day?

 

[lajones81]

I have a Nightguard for my TMJ.