Malocclusion of the teeth results in misalignment. This can cause the jaw to pop. Malocclusion is also known as a crossbite, overbite, underbite, open bite or crowded teeth. Misalignment is usually treated with braces and other orthodontic care.
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) causes chronic pain in the musculoskeletal system. The pain is usually localized to one area. MPS in the jaw can cause the jaw to pop. People with MPS have trigger points, or sensitive spots. These trigger points cause pain when pressure is applied. Someone who has MPS may have pain that gets worse with straining or stretching of the muscle—pain that doesn’t get better after a week.
A smaller range of motion in the affected area. Jaw popping can also be caused by both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). OSA causes a person to stop breathing involuntarily throughout their sleep cycle due to narrowness in the throat. The limited airflow restricts how much air goes into the lungs. This causes the individual to wake up so they can catch their breath. Other symptoms of OSA include snoring, daytime sleepiness, headaches and leg swelling. People who have central sleep apnea stop breathing periodically during sleep because the brain doesn’t accurately signal the muscles. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is the most common treatment for sleep apnea.
Infection of the salivary gland can lead to TMJ and jaw popping, among other symptoms. The infection can reside in the parotid glands inside each cheek, the glands just below the jawbone as well as the sublingual glands located under your tongue. You may be unable to fully open your mouth, which can cause the popping. You may also have dry mouth, face pain, foul taste in the mouth or swelling of the face and neck. These infections should be treated right away. When a tumor interferes with the movement of the jaw, you may also experience jaw popping.
How is jaw popping treated?
Women are most likely to experience TMJ, though it’s unclear why—occurring most frequently both in younger persons and in women between the ages of 30 and 50. However, anyone of any age and either sex can experience…