Why Does My Jaw Click & Is It A Problem?

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Welcome to Save Your Money, Save Your Teeth, the go-to podcast where curiosity meets dentistry straight from the experts. I’m Eon Engelbrecht and once again I’m joined by Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile. We’re taking a deep dive into the world of dental care from a consumer’s perspective, so stick around.
Today’s episode is entitled: Why Does My Jaw Click (and Is It a Problem)? In this podcast we’ll explore what causes that clicking or popping sound in your temporomandibular joint (TMJ)—when it’s merely an occasional, harmless noise and when it could signal something more serious requiring professional attention. Thanks so much, as always, Dr Yudelman, for joining us.
[00:01:08] Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA: How are you doing?

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
I’m good, thank you, and I hope you’re keeping warm. It’s been rainy here in Cape Town. It’s great to chat to you, as always, and I believe this is podcast number 63, if I’m not mistaken.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Excellent.

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
So, yeah… look out for my book shortly. Sixty-five podcasts make up a very big book, so there’s a lot of editing going on.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Sure. Right, Dr Yudelman, talking about jaw clicking—now, what exactly is it and why does it happen?
[00:01:47]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
When we talk about jaw clicking, it’s an audible pop or click sound when you open or close your mouth, and it usually originates from the TMJ, or temporomandibular joint. The TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint with an articular disc—a small piece of cartilage in the joint that should glide smoothly. The clicking often occurs when that disc momentarily displaces and then relocates as your condyle moves. Commonly, the disc rides slightly forward on opening and then snaps back on closing, which makes that characteristic pop or click.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Okay, so it’s not just a party trick: it can be.
[00:02:33]
But is it always a sign of a serious problem, or can it actually just be harmless?
[00:02:38]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
No, in many people, occasional painless clicking is benign—it’s not something to worry about. It’s an incidental noise without significant joint damage or dysfunction. Harmless clicks often occur in younger people with no pain, no limited range of motion or any locking. However, if clicking is accompanied by persistent pain or restricted mouth opening, or an altered jaw movement—if you shift your jaw to one side and it goes quite far, and you shift to the other side and it doesn’t travel the same distance, and/or it hurts—then that could indicate temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD), and you should seek professional attention.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
And what anatomical structures are involved in jaw clicking, Doctor?
[00:03:42]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
The main components are the mandibular condyle—which is the lower-jaw “ball”—and the temporal bone, which forms the upper socket known as the glenoid fossa. Between them sits the articular disc, acting as a cushion. Surrounding ligaments stabilise the joint, and the lateral pterygoid muscle (spelled P-T-E-R-Y-G-O-I-D; you don’t pronounce the “p” or you’ll end up spitting on someone!). This muscle attaches to the front part of the disc, while posterior tissues help keep the disc in place. If the disc loses its optimal alignment—whether due to ligament changes, general hypermobility, weakened ligaments or altered muscle tension—it can slip forward and then click as it pops back into position during biting or chewing.
[00:04:22]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
All right, and when should listeners actually be concerned about jaw clicking and seek professional advice?
[00:04:57]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Occasional jaw pain is quite common—you might eat too much biltong or too many almonds and notice some achiness in your jaw muscles. But if you have persistent pain—especially localised around your ear, your temple or your jaw joint—for longer than a few weeks, that’s a good time to see your dentist. If clicking is accompanied by jaw locking—that is, you can’t open fully or can’t close fully—or you have a decreased range of motion (for instance, you can’t open as wide as before), it suggests the disc isn’t gliding smoothly. The TMJ is unusual: it’s both a hinge joint and a sliding joint. The first part of opening is purely rotational, then the jaw translates forward. It’s a complex motion.
[00:05:06]
There’s also crepitus (C-R-E-P-I-T-U-S), which is a grating or grinding sensation. If you notice that, or if your teeth no longer meet as they used to, you should see your dentist sooner rather than later. That could indicate cartilage wear, early degenerative changes or severe inflammation.
[00:06:15]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
How can you distinguish between TMJ-related clicking and benign joint noises—is there a way to tell the difference?
[00:06:44]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Benign clicking is usually intermittent and painless, with no limitation in opening or closing your mouth. You might notice it only occasionally—when yawning, biting a large sandwich, or even doing it deliberately as a party trick. Pathological clicking often has associated symptoms such as pain on chewing, morning stiffness, headaches or a sense of popping when you bite down. A simple self-test: if you can click a few times without discomfort and maintain full, unrestricted jaw movement, it’s likely harmless. But if there’s pain, restricted opening (anything less than about 35–40 millimetres is suboptimal) or a history of trauma (e.g. being struck in the jaw), then it’s probably TMJ-related and should be evaluated.
[00:07:00]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
What common factors or habits contribute to jaw clicking?
[00:07:55]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
We recently did a series on parafunctional habits—teeth grinding or bruxism, including clenching—can overload the TMJ, causing micro-trauma to ligaments, discs and attachments. [00:08:15]
Other parafunctional habits include ice chewing, lip biting, nail biting and cheek biting—any of these can predispose the disc to displacement. Stress-induced tension is another major factor: under stress, the lateral pterygoid can pull the disc forward. Posture is also crucial. Poor posture—jutting your chin forward when using a phone or laptop—alters the resting position of your jaw and increases joint strain. We often refer patients to Trish Lang on Bree Street (Physiotherapy), who specialises in TMJ, headaches and neck issues. In the old days, phones were larger so people didn’t contort themselves; now many cradle their phone between shoulder and ear, tilting the head and lifting the shoulder—avoid that. Use a headset or an in-ear device instead.
[00:08:45]
Trauma or whiplash injuries—even minor—can stretch or tear ligaments, leading to disc displacement. Finally, arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) can gradually erode joint surfaces, resulting in uneven condylar–disc movement and noise.
[00:09:15]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Do you have any simple self-assessment or home-care measures that might alleviate the clicking?
[00:11:00]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
If it’s infrequent and not urgent, try gentle heat or cold therapy. Warm compresses over the TMJ for ten to fifteen minutes can relax tense muscles. A cold pack wrapped in a cloth—never place ice directly on your skin—helps reduce localised inflammation.
[00:11:16]
Jaw stretching exercises abound online, but don’t overdo them unless guided by a physiotherapist or dentist. One exercise: place two index fingers between your front teeth and gently stretch open; this can encourage the disc to re-seat. Another: place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and open and close gently while standing with your chin tucked in and head against a wall—this combines posture and opening exercises. We generally leave these to physios, since they’re related to the neck.
A soft diet also helps—limit hard, chewy or crunchy foods like nuts, tough meat or biltong for a week or two to reduce joint loading. Usually, avoiding whatever originally triggered it is best. For mild inflammation, it should subside.
[00:11:45]
Postural awareness is essential—keep your head centred over your shoulders rather than leaning forward. Stress-management techniques (mindful breathing, gentle yoga, Pilates, walks) all help. It’s self-care—life’s way of telling you to slow down.
[00:12:15]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Any non-invasive treatments you’d recommend for early-stage jaw clicking?
[00:14:05]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Since this is Save Your Money, Save Your Teeth, I’d be wary of rushing to an oral surgeon or TMJ specialist who’s quick to recommend invasive surgery. If it’s fairly new, often it will resolve—especially if stress-related. An occlusal splint or night guard (a custom-made hard acrylic splint, now often 3D-printed) can help. Over-the-counter soft splints can exacerbate the problem and worsen your bite, so don’t buy one. A properly made splint from a competent dentist can be beneficial, particularly if there are signs of grinding (wear on the teeth). But that’s not my first line of treatment: I find that referring to a physiotherapist and trying less invasive measures often resolves the issue. Otherwise, making a splint that goes unused wastes money (five or six thousand rand).
[00:14:30]
We’ve mentioned physiotherapy: a TMJ-specific physio—someone like Trish (with a Master’s in TMJ, headaches and neck issues)—is ideal; she often gets patients sorted in two or three visits. Some physios attempt TMJ work but often lack the same depth of experience. It’s a specialised area, especially when prescribing correct exercises: controlled opening, lateral movements, tongue-up posture, etc. Soft-tissue massage of the jaw muscles can also help.
NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) reduce pain and inflammation; prescription options such as Arcoxia (easier on the stomach; once-daily dosing) also help. That makes it easier to perform any rehabilitation exercises.
[00:15:45]
Finally, behavioural modification: avoid excessive gum chewing, wide yawning, nail biting, lip biting or cuticle biting. Reduce caffeine if you grind at night. We’ve covered parafunctional habits, bruxism and TMJ in earlier episodes, so listeners may wish to revisit those for further detail.
[00:16:15]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
When is it appropriate to consider specialist interventions such as splints or surgery?
[00:18:25]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Splints or night guards are quite conservative: you wear them at night, and they’re not designed to reposition your jaw. However, be cautious: if you see someone who practises neuromuscular dentistry (often promoted by institutes with names that sound like “Memphis Institute”—though it isn’t actually in Memphis), they might give you a splint to wear 24/7. After six to eight weeks, your teeth may no longer fit together, forcing you into full-mouth rehabilitation, which can cost two or three hundred thousand rand—patients often don’t need that. In South Africa, practitioners tend to be more conservative; you won’t see that approach offered widely here. I practised in America for sixteen years and in Australia for twelve years, and I observed far less of that in those countries.
[00:19:30]
Intra-articular injections (steroid or other agents into the joint) are the domain of a TMJ specialist or oral surgeon. Arthrocentesis (joint lavage via arthroscope) is very specialised, reserved for persistent chronic issues. Open-joint surgery (disc repositioning, removal of the disc, joint reconstruction) is only for severely degenerated joints—it’s not routine.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Finally, Dr Yudelman, what preventive strategies help maintain healthy TMJs and avoid future problems?
[00:21:56]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Early identification and stress management are crucial. If you notice frequent jaw tension or mild clicking, begin simple relaxation techniques: progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, warm baths or showers, or sauna/steam-room sessions. Exercise—go for a walk, do Pilates or yoga—or seek therapy if stress becomes unmanageable. Consciously interrupt habits: avoid nail biting, gum chewing, and excessive pinching; keep a stress ball to manage tension.
[00:22:20]
Postural correction is also vital: I do Pilates three times a week; you could attend a yoga class or watch posture tutorials online. Maintain a neutral head position when sitting at a desk or using a mobile phone—imagine a string gently pulling the crown of your head towards the ceiling to relieve cervical-spine and jaw-joint strain.
Regular dental check-ups are important: your dentist should assess jaw motion and ask about any jaw concerns—if they don’t, ask them directly, “Is this normal?” If indicated, a dentist may prescribe a night-time bruxism appliance even before clicking or pain starts. If a patient has a large neck, is overweight, and their partner reports snoring, I often send them for a home sleep study. Sleep apnoea can be associated with clenching and grinding, leading to headaches, jaw pain, tiredness and irritability.
[00:22:55]
All these factors are interrelated. To help, you can book a 90-minute digital consultation at OptiSmile (which includes CBCT, 3D scans, full digital X-rays, photographs and a personalised treatment plan). We offer a free 30-minute video consultation via our website to answer any questions. And remember: avoid anyone who did a six-week course at the so-called “Memphis Institute”—that’s not the real name.
[00:24:20]

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Okay, Dr Yudelman—that was another very interesting podcast today. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us. And what can we look forward to next week?
[00:25:26]

Dr Clifford Yudelman – OptiSmile
Many patients ask, “My teeth are shifting—are my wisdom teeth pushing? Why are my teeth getting skewed?” Next week we’ll address that.

Eon Engelbrecht – E-Radio SA
Looking forward to that, Dr Yudelman—thank you once again. And thank you to our listeners for joining us. Remember, while we strive to provide valuable insights, always consult your own dental professional for advice tailored to your personal health. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more enlightening discussions. Join us again next time as we continue exploring the fascinating intersection of dental health and financial savvy. Until then, keep smiling and taking great care of your teeth.
[00:25:55]

Narrator – OptiSmile
Discover the world of dental excellence with OptiSmile. Join us for a weekly podcast featuring Dr Clifford Yudelman—a seasoned expert with 40 years of dental experience across four continents. Gain unique insights and expert dental advice by visiting OptiSmile.co.za for articles illuminating the path to optimal oral health. If you’re seeking unparalleled dental care in Cape Town, get in touch with OptiSmile or book directly online at OptiSmile.co.za. OptiSmile: where global expertise meets local care.
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