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Symptoms, Their Causes & Cures: Jaw Clicking

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Jaw Clicking

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* Pain or discomfort accompanies a popping noise when you open or close your jaw.

* You also grind your teeth.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

The muscles that control your jaws usually work in harmony, allowing you to open and close your mouth smoothly—and silently. "But if the muscles are tired or overworked, or if you're chewing on a tough steak, they won't pull together evenly," says Van B. Haywood, D.M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Operative Dentistry at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill. One muscle pulls one way, another pulls in an opposite direction or doesn't move at all—and your jaw clicks.

Jaw clicking is very common, dentists say. The only reason it's so annoyingly noticeable is that it's right next to your ear.

Sometimes jaw clicking comes along with other symptoms—such as headaches, neck pain, stiffness or difficulty opening and closing the mouth. More serious problems with the jaw joint are know as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Problems with this joint can develop when its supporting muscles and ligaments are overly stretched and out of alignment, according to Eric Z. Shapira, D.D.S., a trustee on the national board of the Academy of General Dentistry and a dentist in private practice in Half Moon Bay, California. And if the bony portions of the joint don't align properly, bone will grind against bone.

Bruxism, the nightly clenching and grinding of the teeth, increases the potential for additional problems, Dr. Shapira says. Not only is it one of the most common dental problems, but nine out of ten people whose jaws click also gnash their teeth, which can cause the jaw to deteriorate.

Symptom Relief

Jaw clicking is an irritant, primarily because it's so audible. But unless you also have facial pain or unless the jawbones and muscles are deteriorating, doctors can't do much about it.

"You can't fix it any more than you can fix a knee that goes out," Dr. Haywood says. "It just gets dislodged, and then it goes back into place."

Here's how to silence some of that racket.

Ban the Bazooka. Don't ever chew gum, Dr. Haywood says. That puts a continuous strain on your jaw joint and muscles.

Avoid steak. You should never chew tough meat or vegetables. And stay away from triple-decker sandwiches. "If you have jaw clicking or popping, that stresses your joints tremendously," says Dr. Haywood.

Watch for wear. Tell your dentist about your jaw clicking and ask him to look for signs of bruxism-caused erosion on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, Dr. Shapira says. (For hints and tips on dealing with teeth grinding, see page 554.)

See also Jaw Problems

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