Jaw clicking when you open your mouth usually comes from the small disc inside your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) slipping forward and snapping back into place as the jaw moves. It’s very common, and painless clicking on its own is rarely serious. Clicking that comes with pain, locking, or trouble chewing is different, and it deserves a proper exam from a dentist in Richmond Hill who can check the joint, your bite and your teeth together.
Here’s the reassuring bit. Research suggests something like 1 in 4 adults hear their jaw click or pop at some point, and plenty of them never need treatment.
The tricky part is that the same sound can come from a few different places: a shifted disc, a bite that’s slightly off, or years of clenching at night. Checking jaw complaints is part of everyday family dentistry at Hummingbird Dental, so you get an answer in one visit instead of being bounced around.
Sometimes the cause sits right next to the joint. A partly erupted or infected back tooth can make the jaw stiff and sore, and in those cases wisdom tooth extraction may take the pressure off.
Worn, broken or missing molars also change the way your jaw closes. That’s where restorative dentistry such as crowns or tooth replacement can help the joint settle. And if your jaw ever locks open or shut, book an emergency dentist visit the same day rather than waiting it out.
Is jaw clicking common, temporary or serious?
Most people want to know one thing first: should I worry? This table sorts the usual situations.
| What you notice | How it usually plays out | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional click, no pain, jaw opens fully | Common. Often stays the same for years | Mention it at your next checkup |
| Clicking after a long dental visit, a big yawn or a tough meal | Temporary. Settles in a few days | Soft foods, rest the jaw |
| Clicking with soreness in front of the ear | Possible TMJ disorder | Book an exam within a few weeks |
| Jaw catches, locks or won’t open fully | Serious. The disc may no longer slide back | See a dentist promptly |
| Clicking plus facial swelling or fever | Could be infection, not just the joint | Same-day emergency care |
What is actually clicking inside your jaw?
Your TMJ is the hinge just in front of each ear. The rounded end of the lower jaw (the condyle) sits in a socket in the skull, and a thin pad of cartilage called the articular disc cushions the two.
When everything moves in sync, you hear nothing. When the disc sits a little too far forward, the condyle has to ride over its back edge as you open. That ride produces the click.
Disc displacement with reduction
This is the classic click. The disc slips forward when your mouth is closed, then pops back on top of the condyle as you open. Many people live with it comfortably for decades.
Disc displacement without reduction
Here the disc stays stuck in front. The clicking often stops (which sounds like good news), but opening becomes limited, sometimes to two fingers’ width or less. This is the version that needs attention.
Crepitus
A grinding or gravel-like sound, rather than a clean click, can point to wear inside the joint, such as osteoarthritis. It’s more common after 40 and worth having checked.
What causes jaw clicking?
There’s rarely one single cause. Usually it’s two or three things stacking up.
- Clenching and grinding (bruxism): Night grinding loads the joint for hours while you sleep. Many people only find out when a dentist spots flattened, worn teeth.
- Bite changes: A tall filling, a missing molar or teeth that have drifted can shift how the jaw closes.
- Stress: Tight jaw muscles pull on the joint. Lots of patients notice clicking gets worse during exam season or a busy stretch at work.
- Habits: Chewing gum all day, biting nails, chewing pens or resting your chin on your hand.
- Injury: A fall, a sports hit or even a whiplash-type car accident.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the TMJ like any other joint.
- Posture: Long hours with your head pushed forward toward a screen changes how the jaw muscles work.
Common myths about jaw clicking and dental visits
Myth: “Clicking always means I have TMJ disorder.”
A painless click with full movement is often just a quirk of your anatomy. TMJ disorder (TMD) is a diagnosis based on pain, function and an exam, and a sound alone doesn’t make it.
Myth: “If it doesn’t hurt, it’ll never get worse.”
Most clicks do stay stable. But a jaw that starts catching or locking has changed, so watch for that shift.
Myth: “Seeing a dentist about my jaw means a painful procedure.”
The exam is gentle. It’s mostly questions, light pressure on the muscles and measuring how far you open. Most jaw treatment is conservative, like a night guard or some habit changes. If you feel nervous about dental visits, say so at booking. The team at Hummingbird Dental is used to anxious patients and will go at your pace.
Myth: “Surgery is the only real fix.”
Surgery is rare and kept for a small number of cases that don’t respond to months of conservative care.
What can you do at home to calm a clicking jaw?
If your jaw clicks but doesn’t hurt much, these steps are a sensible first move. Give them 2 to 3 weeks.
- Switch to softer foods. Pasta, eggs, soups, fish. Skip bagels, steak, hard candy and whole apples for a while.
- Cut big openings. Support your chin when you yawn and take small bites.
- Drop the gum. Gum is basically a workout for an already tired joint.
- Find your rest position. Lips together, teeth slightly apart, tongue resting on the roof of your mouth. Check it a few times a day.
- Use warm compresses. 10 to 15 minutes of moist heat relaxes tight muscles. A cold pack helps more after an injury.
- Ask a pharmacist about pain relief. Short-term over-the-counter anti-inflammatories help some people. Follow the label and check with a pharmacist if you take other medications.
- Notice daytime clenching. A sticky note on your monitor saying “teeth apart” sounds silly, and it works surprisingly well.
How does a dentist diagnose jaw clicking?
A proper diagnosis matters because the fix depends on the cause. A typical assessment looks like this:
- History: When it started, whether it hurts, headaches, grinding, recent injuries or dental work.
- Joint exam: The dentist feels the joints and chewing muscles as you open and close, and listens for clicks or grinding.
- Range of motion: How far you open, and whether the jaw swings to one side.
- Bite and tooth check: Looking for wear facets, cracks, high fillings or missing teeth.
- Imaging if needed: A panoramic x-ray shows the joints and teeth. Some cases get referred for CBCT or MRI to look at the disc itself.
- Plan and follow-up: A clear plan, then a review visit to see whether things are improving.
What treatments help a clicking jaw?
Most people improve with simple, reversible care. Here’s how the main options compare.
| Treatment | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Custom night guard (occlusal splint) | Grinding, clenching, morning jaw ache | Made from impressions of your teeth, so it fits and spreads the load evenly |
| Store-bought guard | Short-term stopgap | Bulky fit can make some people clench harder |
| Fixing the bite | Tall fillings, worn or missing teeth | Crowns, fillings or implants can rebalance how teeth meet |
| Physiotherapy and jaw exercises | Muscle tightness, limited opening | Works well with a guard |
| Medication | Flare-ups | Short courses only, under professional advice |
| Specialist referral | Locking, arthritis, no improvement | Oral surgeons or TMD specialists handle complex cases |
When should you see a dentist about jaw clicking?
Book an appointment if any of these apply:
- Pain in front of the ear, in the cheek or at the temples
- Your jaw catches, sticks or locks, even briefly
- You can’t open as wide as you used to
- Your bite suddenly feels different
- Morning headaches or sore teeth when you wake up
- Clicking started after an injury
- Swelling, fever or a bad taste, which can signal infection
Getting checked early usually means simpler care. A joint that’s been locking for months is harder to settle than one caught in the first few weeks.
Getting your jaw checked at Hummingbird Dental in Richmond Hill
Hummingbird Dental is one of the best and most trusted options if you’re looking for a dental clinic in Richmond Hill. The clinic won the Top Choice Award for Richmond Hill Dentist in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
New patients are welcome, and the clinic accepts CDCP (Canadian Dental Care Plan) patients. Care is available in English, Persian, Russian, Portuguese, Hindi and Urdu, which makes it much easier to describe symptoms like jaw pain in the language you think in.
The office is open 6 days a week, including Saturdays, with extended evening hours on weekdays. If your jaw locks or the pain spikes, same-day emergency appointments are available, which makes it a practical choice when you need an emergency dental clinic in Richmond Hill.
You’ll find the clinic at 10376 Yonge St #202, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B8. Call +1 647-370-2024 or email info@hummingbirddental.ca to book, and mention your jaw symptoms so enough time is set aside for a full joint exam.
Every dentist at the clinic is a licensed professional registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). That registration means they meet Ontario’s standards for training, safety and ethical care, which matters when a problem involves both your teeth and a joint.
Frequently asked questions
Can jaw clicking go away on its own?
Yes, often. Clicking caused by stress, a long dental visit or a few days of hard chewing usually fades within days or weeks with soft foods and rest. Clicking from a displaced disc may stay, but it’s usually harmless if there’s no pain or locking.
Is jaw clicking a sign of TMJ disorder?
It can be, but a click alone isn’t enough to diagnose TMJ disorder. A diagnosis also looks at pain, how well the jaw moves and what a dentist finds during an exam.
Does a night guard stop jaw clicking?
A custom night guard may not stop the sound completely, but it reduces the load on the joint from grinding and clenching. Many people find their pain and morning stiffness ease within a few weeks.
Why does my jaw click on only one side?
One-sided clicking is very common. It often happens because you chew more on one side, sleep on that side, or have a missing or worn tooth that changes how the jaw closes there.
Should I see a dentist or a doctor for jaw clicking?
A dentist is usually the right first stop because the bite, teeth and TMJ are closely linked. If the dentist suspects arthritis, a nerve issue or another medical cause, they’ll refer you to the right physician or specialist.
Conclusion
Painless jaw clicking is common and usually harmless, but pain, locking or bite changes need a professional look.
Simple steps like soft foods, a relaxed rest position and a custom night guard help most people.
If your jaw is bothering you, a short exam at a trusted Richmond Hill dental clinic can tell you exactly what’s going on.
