Toothaches are common, but they aren’t the only sign that your dental health is in trouble. Many patients experience locking and/or popping jaws whenever they open and close their mouths, and the sound is often accompanied by various levels of discomfort. Like a toothache, a popping/clicking jaw isn’t normal and typically indicates trouble that shouldn’t be ignored. Unlike a toothache, the affliction typically associated with a popping jaw can hinder your mouth’s ability to function as well as its comfort. Today, your Astoria dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, explores the components of your jaw and why they may occasionally have trouble moving smoothly.
How Jaws (Should) Move
Like most moveable parts of your body, your jaw is hinged by two joints, called the temporomandibular joints, which connect your mandible to your skull. Located directly in front of each ear, your TMJs move in tandem as you open and close your mouth. When healthy and perfectly aligned, this movement is accomplished with ease; however, when these joints are damaged or misaligned, movement is often more difficult and accompanied by popping, clicking, and/or grinding as they struggle to operate.
Popping Jaw and Other Symptoms
Dysfunctional jaw joints indicate a condition called TMJ disorder, which not only involves popping and discomfort, but also sometimes-debilitating discomfort. The nerve that travels through your jaw, called the trigeminal nerve, also innervates much of your head, neck, shoulder, and back regions. When TMJ disorder is apparent, the disturbance is felt throughout the path of the trigeminal nerve and can result in chronic jaw pain, migraines, severe earaches, and locked jaw, among many other symptoms.
Help Your Jaw Stop Popping with Help from Your Astoria Dentist
If your jaw is popping and/or hurting and you’re ready to seek relief, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Leibowitz by calling our Astoria dentist’s office today at (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
