Sign Up Today!

zua44 · 06-02-2012, 02:28 AM

Hi, Im 21 and have been popping my jaw on the right side since I was about 16. It isnt like most popping Ive read about though so I will explain it. Before popping my jaw it starts to feel tensed up and like its not seated properly or something, but only on the right side, if I move my jaw to the left then sort of bite down it will pop(which feels great) and releive all the tenseness in my jaw. Is this TMJ or could it be possible my jaw moves slightly out of place over time and me popping it to feel better is actually me popping it back into place or something? My left jaw pops sometimes too but it doesnt feel good like my right one, and feels more like bones slipping past another where my right one(the one im curious about) feels more like a popping back into place sensation. Any help is appreciated because Im afraid I may be wearing down some cartilage or something, and it seems as though my right jaw muscles are larger than my left before I pop it, and they are the same size after popping it. I tried to go the whole day without popping it, but my jaw was tense and it was all i could think about for 80% of my day, so I gave in and popped it and now it feels good again. Thanks for any answers I recieve!

zua44 · 06-02-2012, 01:30 PM

bump .

judye · 06-03-2012, 10:14 AM

I haven't had that problem myself but you are right to be concerned - there is a problem with your jaw (hard to say if it's TMJ) and it will get worse if not addressed.

Make sure you research the absolute best modern neuromuscular dentist in your state and get the best medical opinion. The field of TMJ has no best practices and just seeing the local specialist may cause you to end up with the wrong treatment and a worsened condition (just spend some time on these sites and you'll see).

Hang in there! It can be really hard to do research to find an excellent specialist when you are in so much discomfort, but it is so worth the effort. Ask friends/family for help in doing so if you need it.

Wishing you the best in your recovery

zua44 · 06-03-2012, 03:07 PM

Thanks, but I cant afford to see a doctor. Thats why Im asking about it on here. If it is bad I was just going to make myself stop doing it, if it isnt bad i was going to keep doing it.

Diver99 · 12-24-2012, 08:01 AM

I’m 25 and I’ve been popping my jaw for years and it felt good until recently. Actually the popping still feels good but now I have some pain in my jaw joint, so I told my dentist about it. My dentist took X-Rays and said I was messing up my joint by clenching. I told her I didn’t clench, and she loaned me a SleepGuard electronic headband to wear at night and monitor my jaw muscles. Turns out I was clenching a lot in my sleep and didn’t know it. She says I need to stop the clenching or my pain will get worse. She says the clenching is an addictive habit in sleep. I think I am addicted to the popping when I am awake, because I also tried not doing it and it drove me nuts. I wonder if the pain comes from the clenching or if I wore something down by doing the popping. So maybe I have to quit both. She says the headband she loaned me can also do biofeedback, and that I can buy one and use the biofeedback while I sleep to reduce the clenching, or she can make me a mouth guard that might reduce my clenching. But even if one of those works and I get over the clenching, It’s going to be tough to give up the popping. Maybe I can just cut down slowly.

Sign Up Today!

Join Our Newsletter

Whoops,

Thank You