Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) on each side of your skull allow your mouth to open, shut, and move side to side. Therefore, issues with these joints are likely to manifest as jaw popping. However, jaw popping may occur with or without pain when one or both joints aren’t functioning as they should. The condition may cause discomfort in the cheek or jaw or make it impossible or painful to open the mouth completely. Facial edema is another possible symptom, as are earaches and toothaches. To some people, jaw popping is an annoying but unavoidable part of speech and eating. So, our Greeneville dentists who treat TMJ disorder at Tusculum Dental Care share on the blog today possible reasons why your jaw is popping and how you can make it stop.
Reasons Why Your Jaw Pops
Jaw popping is a common temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) sign, although it may also be caused by poor habits, including biting fingernails, chewing gum excessively, or grinding teeth. Because of the abnormal stress placed on the jaw joints, these behaviors may lead to painful clicking or popping sounds in the jaw when opening and closing your mouth. Not every TMJ sufferer experiences jaw popping, but if you do, our Greeneville TMJ dentists can help you discover the appropriate therapy. Whether or not you feel pain, talking to our dentists about your jaw popping is a good idea since the symptom might be caused by another problem such as arthritis, an abnormal bite, or even a tumor.
What You Can Do About Jaw Popping
Our Jonesborough TMJ dentists may provide advice on how to manage jaw popping if it’s due to temporomandibular joint disorder. If you’re experiencing jaw pain, a dental splint may help realign your jaw and reduce inflammation, calming the jaw joint and relieving pain. Our dentists may recommend that you cut down on chewing gum and limit or avoid chewy meats or other foods that may strain your jaw joints. These modifications may be temporary until you experience relief from your disorder. Treatment options for tooth grinding may include physical therapy, stress reduction, and wearing a nighttime mouthguard. The good news is that there are ways to deal with jaw popping, whether it really hurts or is merely unpleasant. If you hear your jaw popping, schedule a consultation with us to learn more about the problem and potential solutions. Fortunately, most therapies are non-invasive or require minor adjustments to your daily routine.
Jaw Popping Treatment in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
Hearing your jaw pop for the first time may cause alarm. In some cases, it can ignite an immediate desire to contact a dentist in Greenville who treats TMJ to find out what’s going on. In other cases, the sound is ignored, and the person continues life as normal. Unfortunately, untreated jaw popping sounds could develop into a progressively worse condition that may cause permanent damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw. So, if you hear your jaw popping, it’s vital to contact Tusculum Dental Care for a consultation to determine suitable treatment and stop the popping sounds. To find out more about jaw popping or to schedule a consultation, call us at (423) 639-7575 or contact us online.