Jaw Pain and Clicking: What Your Jaw Joint Is Trying to Tell You
- Star Light Dental
- July 9, 2026
- [email protected]
The jaw joints, one in front of each ear, are among the most heavily used joints in the body. They work every time you talk, chew, swallow or yawn. When something goes wrong with the joint or the muscles around it, the result is a group of problems dentists call temporomandibular disorders, or TMD. Most people just call it TMJ.
It is common, it is usually manageable, and in most cases it settles without anything drastic.
1. The Symptoms
- clicking, popping or grating when you open or close your mouth
- aching in front of the ear, in the cheeks or at the temples
- headaches, particularly on waking
- a jaw that feels tired or tight when chewing
- difficulty opening wide, or a jaw that catches or locks
- earache or a feeling of fullness in the ear with no infection
- teeth that are worn, chipped or sensitive
A click without pain or restricted movement is very common and usually needs no treatment at all.
2. What Causes It?
- Clenching and grinding, by day or at night. This is the big one, and most people who do it have no idea. See our article on teeth grinding.
- Stress and poor sleep, which drive the clenching.
- Habits: chewing gum, biting nails or pens, resting your chin on your hand.
- An injury to the jaw, or a long dental appointment with the mouth wide open.
- Arthritis in the joint.
- Posture, particularly hours spent with the head pushed forward over a screen.
3. What You Can Do at Home
- Give the jaw a rest. Eat softer food for a couple of weeks, cut it small and avoid chewy or crusty things.
- Stop chewing gum.
- Support your chin with a fist when you yawn, so the jaw does not open to its limit.
- Apply a warm pack to the sore muscles for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Learn the rest position: lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting on the roof of the mouth. Your teeth should touch only when you chew or swallow.
- Check in with yourself through the day. If you catch yourself clenching, drop your shoulders and let the jaw go slack.
- Use your usual pain relief as directed on the pack if you need it.
Most flare-ups ease within a few weeks with these steps.
4. How a Dentist Can Help
We examine the joints, the chewing muscles, how far and how smoothly the jaw opens, and the wear on your teeth, which often tells the story of night-time grinding. Depending on what we find, treatment may include a custom-made night splint that protects the teeth and lets the muscles relax, adjustment of a filling or crown that is sitting too high, and referral to a physiotherapist who works with jaw problems. Persistent or complex cases are referred to a specialist.
5. When to Get It Checked Promptly
- your jaw locks open or closed
- you cannot open wide enough to fit two fingers between your front teeth
- the pain followed a blow to the face
- there is swelling, or the pain is getting steadily worse
- your bite suddenly feels different
Jaw pain together with chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating or pain spreading down the arm can be a sign of a heart attack. Call 000.
6. Looking After Your Jaw Long Term
Jaw problems tend to come and go with stress. Regular exercise, decent sleep and cutting back on caffeine all reduce clenching. If you wear a splint, bring it to your check-ups so that we can check the fit. Worn, cracked or sensitive teeth are worth treating early, because grinding damage accumulates. Our guide to bonding, veneers and crowns explains how worn teeth can be rebuilt.
Sore Jaw or Morning Headaches?
Book a check-up at Star Light Dental in Prestons and mention your jaw when you book, so we can allow time to examine it properly. Call (02) 9432 2833 or book online.
This article is general information and does not replace an examination by a dentist or doctor.