Jaw clicking: when to relax, and when to get it checked
Do You Know? For patients.
Many people hear a click or pop when they open their mouth. On its own, a painless click is common and often stays the same for years. What matters more is pain, locking and how well your jaw moves.
What the click usually means
The jaw joint has a small cushion (disc) between the bone surfaces. A click often means the disc slips slightly forward and then back into place as you open.
A painless click with normal opening usually needs monitoring rather than treatment.
Jaw problems (temporomandibular disorders, TMD) can also involve the chewing muscles, and may come with headaches, ear fullness or neck tension.
Signs that need a check
Pain in the jaw, in front of the ear or at the temples, especially when chewing.
The jaw catches or locks, or you suddenly cannot open as wide as before.
Your bite feels different, or you wake with a tired, aching jaw.
Worn, chipped or cracked teeth, which can point to grinding or clenching.
What the research shows
A 2026 review of 47 trials found that education and self-management gave results similar to many other conservative treatments for TMD beyond the short term.
Physiotherapy approaches, including jaw exercises, manual therapy and posture work, are a recommended part of non-surgical care.
When the disc stays forward and opening is limited, both splints and a minimally invasive joint wash (arthrocentesis) have been used; the evidence is still limited, so the choice is made case by case.
What helps day to day
Soft foods for a while, small bites, and avoiding gum and very wide yawns.
Notice daytime clenching: lips together, teeth apart, jaw relaxed.
Warm compresses on tired muscles, and a regular sleep routine.
If you grind at night, a custom night guard can protect the teeth while the muscles settle.
Not sure if you grind? Take the 2-minute self-check
Related: Teeth grinding and jaw pain
This article is general information and not a substitute for an examination.
References
Türp JC. More therapy is not necessarily better: patient education and self-management perform similarly to other conservative interventions for temporomandibular disorders. Evid Based Dent. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41432-026-01273-5
Ben El Hammi N, Amessegher F, Moudni S, Jouhadi EM. Physiotherapy approaches for temporomandibular disorders: a multimodal conservative management strategy. Cureus. 2025;17(7):e88885. doi:10.7759/cureus.88885
Dawoud BE, Tabbenor O, Crawford C, Bayoumi S. Arthrocentesis versus occlusal coverage splints in the management of disc displacement without reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024;53(9):779-786. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2024.03.013
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