My jaw cracks or pops or whatever a lot! and i tend to clench my teeth at night and i think thats whats causing my jaw to crack. It seems like its kinda getting worse, its starting to lock occasionally and its really scary and it kinda hurts. How can i get it to stop cracking? is this serious? and help would be great :)
Its not when i bite down, it cracks when i open it. I don't have an over bite, I've already had braces.
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My jaw keeps cracking?
(6 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Well, I have to disagree with the previous poster. This is not a psychological problem. The temporomandibular joint is unlike any other joint in the body. Yes, it is a ball and socket joint, but it not only opens and closes the jaw, it rocks or glides to do so. It also produces side to side motion.
In between the upper and lower jaw there is a meniscus (cartilage) similar to to what is found in the knee joint. The jaw joint takes more pounds per square inch of pressure than any other joint in the body. The clicking and temporary locking you are experiencing is the meniscus momentarily popping out of it's correct position. Clenching or grinding your teeth are two of the hardest things you can do to the joint. You should not chew gum, try to bite off anything hard such as a crusty bun or raw vegetables, and if you feel a big yawn coming on, place your hand under the jaw to limit the amount of opening your mouth does when you do yawn. Are you experiencing headaches in your temples? That is another common problem with TMJ difficulties. The previous poster mentioned getting a sports mouth guard, but you'd be much better served to get a custom made bite guard (splint). They are specially molded to your teeth to put as little pressure on the jaw joints as possible. Try using warm compresses on the jaws, and just treat them gently to see if it improves the situation. TMJ problems are highest in people who should have had braces as a child but didn't. Having wisdom teeth extracted can often be the precipitating factor. There are some physiotherapists who secialize in the treatment of TMJ problems. I would never let a chiropractor touch my jaws. A lot of people in the dental community advertise as TMJ specialists, but in fact there is no such thing. A periodontist or prosthodontist would be a good place to start looking should you need a splint. I'd stay away from oralmaxillofacial surgeons for obvious reasons. They are surgeons and surgeons want to operate. I learned this the hard way. My problems started in theje 70's when much less was known about the TMJ and back then surgeries were numerous, including implants to replace the worn out meniscus. The only problem was they were not approved for use in Canada (not known by the patients until the the late 80's, early 90's) and the damage they caused was heartbreaking. If you're interested, google Proplast or Silastic implants. Just please proceed with absolute caution if you seek treatment.Posted 2 years ago # -
is it like when you bite down because you might have an over bite or something like that if it hurts then you should really go see a specialist
Posted 2 years ago # -
same thing happens to me, though it doesn't hurt me, i suggest asking a doctor if you ever happen to walk into a hospital. to me it's not a serious problem but it would be good to know what was causing it, good luck.
Posted 2 years ago # -
yes - it isn't good. This is all psychological. and when it hurts enough you will probably be very pleased to have it stop. In the meantime it can hurt your teeth and maybe your jaw hinge joint.
Got to practice relaxation - think of what really makes you tense and write it down - and then practice spending a few minutes avoiding those thoughts.
When you feel tense, wash your face in warm water and take your time. Warm water on the face is very soothing psycholgoically.
Also you might get a sports teeth guard and put it in your mouth at night. That could keep you from grinding your teeth. It being there can sort of gently remind you to "let off the peddle" a little. You're just running too hot.
Doesn't sound as if your jaw hurts yet - but it might. If it gets to hurting real bad from the cracking, go see a chiropractor - they can reset your jaw.
Mostly - relax...
Posted 2 years ago # -
You have what is called a TMJ problem. Dentists call it TMD. Basically what is happening is your jaw joint dislocates every time you have your teeth together. Then when you open, the jaw joint pops back into place. The longer you leave this untreated, the more likely your jaw joint will be unable to get back into joint and this is called a closed lock. When you have a closed lock, you will not be able to open more than 3 fingers wide between your front teeth and treatment will be much more difficult. The easiest time to treat TMD is when your jaw joints are clicking and popping. Once that stops, your condition has gotten worse and will be much more difficult to treat.
You need to see a dentist who knows how to treat TMD, not all do. Do not go to an oral surgeon or orthodontist. Do not accept surgery as an option because your problem can be corrected non surgically. Most traditional orthodontists do not know how to treat TMD and it is very possible that your orthodontic treatment caused your problem if you had bicuspids (premolars) extracted, a very common traditional orthodontic technique. This type of treatment causes the lower jaw to be forced back too far and that causes the dislocation you are experiencing.
In the meantime, stop eating hard and chewy foods, do not chew gum or ice, and use moist heat if pain gets bad.
Be sure to question the dentist you go to about his TMJ credentials, experience, and education. Also, do not allow any dentist to grind on your teeth, trust me. A functional orthodontist will be the best person to treat your TMD.
Posted 2 years ago #
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