If you have experienced that feeling where the jaw seems to lock up, you know it can be painful and concerning. It is caused by a problem with the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which connects your jawbone to your skull, and allows you to chew, speak and so on. But while the click or pop that accompanies the problem sounds unnerving, it is typically not a cause for concern and can often fix itself.
However, it always helps to know what causes it, and what you can do to fix it, and we begin with the causes.
6 Reasons You Suffer from TMJ disorder or TMD
Because the jaw is a complex mechanical machine with lots of moving parts, there are a number of reasons why it may pop. One of the most common is when the cartilage type material inside the jaw, shaped like a disk, is dislodged in some way. The clicking sound is it moving out of position and then reseating.
This can be caused by a number of things, including:
- Clenching the Jaw
- Grinding Teeth
- Chewing Gum Frequently
- Eating Hard Foods
- Chewing the Inner Cheek
- Biting Fingernails
Other common causes include physical damage, such as suffered in a car accident or similar, arthritis or connective tissue diseases such as generalized joint hypermobility.
How to stop your jaw popping
If your jaw is popping constantly, that may indicate a significant problem. However, if it happens once in a while, there are some things you can do to fix your TMJ popping. There are other natural things you do to fix your TMJ if these don’t work.
- Stress relief – Stress causes a lot of issues in the jaw. If there is anything you can do to relieve it, it can help a lot. Things such as working out, yoga, meditation, relaxation exercise and so on.
- Anti-inflammatory medicine – Over the counter, non-steroidal products such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen can relieve swelling and pain in the jaw.
- Avoid hard foods – If you find that eating hard or crunchy foods such as raw vegetables, or even excessively chewy foods like caramel can lead to your jaw popping, try avoiding them for a while, Instead, go for soft foods such as yoghurt and well-cooked vegetables.
- Take smaller bites – One of the ways in which your jaw pops is when it overextends. This cam be caused by yawning for instance, but also when you take large bites when eating. Try smaller quantities of food at a time so you don’t have to open your jaw wide when eating.
- Temperature treatment – Treat your jaw with an ice pack for around 10 minutes, then replace with a warm compress for a similar length of time. This can help ease the TMJ popping symptoms, especially when repeated a few times each day.
- Check your posture – Posture affects all aspects of the body, and bad posture can be a cause of jaw misalignment. Check your posture and you may find that it eases the issue.
- Relax your jaw – Grinding teeth can lead to this problem, and whether you do it consciously or subconsciously, you want to avoid it. Try relaxing your jaw and leave a gap between your teeth. Nighttime teeth grinding is often caused by stress, so you can also try a destressing program to help, while wearing a mouthguard can prevent the issue in the short term.
- Visit the dentist – since the TMJ is in the domain of the mouth, the dentist has an assortment of services for TMJ treatment Burlington. Especially if you have chronic discomfort, this may be the best option at least to hear what they have to say.
All of these methods can help alleviate jaw popping if you find it is a problem. However, please remember that if TMJ popping has become a very frequent problem, or if it persists despite trying these methods, it is crucial you speak to your dentist, as there may be more serious underlying causes you need to deal with.
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