Why does my jaw hurt or click when I open?
Pain, clicking or restricted opening usually comes from the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that move it. Clicking on its own, without pain or locking, is common and often needs no treatment. Pain on chewing, morning stiffness, headaches at the temples, or an episode of locking suggest a disc or muscle problem that responds to a staged approach — habit and load management, physiotherapy, an occlusal splint — before anything irreversible is considered.
What jaw pain or clicking usually turns out to be
- Myofascial pain in the muscles of mastication
- Internal derangement of the joint disc, with clicking or locking
- Clenching and grinding (bruxism), often stress- or sleep-related
- An unstable bite, or a recent high restoration
- Arthritic change in the joint
- Trauma to the jaw or the joint
What to do before you are seen
- Soft diet, small bites, and avoid wide opening and chewing gum for now
- Warm compresses and gentle jaw rest during a painful phase
- Note when it locks, and whether you wake with stiffness
- Ask for a TMJ assessment before any irreversible bite adjustment
This is general guidance and does not replace an examination. Only a clinical examination with radiographs can identify which tooth or tissue is causing your symptom.
When to see us
- Swelling that spreads, restricts mouth opening or affects swallowing or breathing
- Numbness, altered sensation, or bleeding that will not stop after surgery
- Jaw locking, an ulcer or lump lasting more than two weeks, or a white or red patch that does not heal
Detailed guides on this symptom
Orthodontics and TMJ Symptoms
Orthodontics can influence TMJ health. Learn about the connection between your bite, jaw joints, and common symptoms, and how our specialist care can help.
Children Who Grind Teeth During Sleep Causes
Paediatric sleep bruxism involves involuntary nocturnal tooth grinding in children. While often benign and self-limiting during dental development, it can stem from airway obstruction, central nervous system arousal, or emotional stress, requiring thorough clinical evaluation.
Custom Night Guards for Sleep Bruxism Management
Sleep bruxism involves involuntary nocturnal clenching and grinding that damages dentition and craniomandibular structures. A custom night guard for grinding provides a precise occlusal barrier, redistributing forces, protecting enamel, reducing muscular strain, and stabilising the temporomandibular joint.
Restoring Broken Dental Crowns Damaged by Bruxism
Dental crowns damaged by clenching or nocturnal bruxism require thorough clinical evaluation to distinguish superficial ceramic chipping from catastrophic root fractures. This guide details diagnostic workflows, modern restorative materials like monolithic zirconia, replacement procedures, and essential nightguard protection.
TMJ Arthroscopy for Jaw Joint Diagnosis and Repair
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat internal joint derangement. This comprehensive guide details surgical indications, diagnostic staging, operative techniques, recovery timelines, and evidence-based post-operative rehabilitation protocols.
Sleep Apnea and Teeth Grinding Nighttime Connection
Obstructive sleep apnoea and nocturnal teeth grinding share a profound pathophysiological connection mediated by autonomic arousals. This evidence-based clinical guide examines the airway-bruxism mechanism, oral diagnostic markers, polysomnographic staging, mandibular advancement splints, and long-term joint and airway management.
TMJ Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Understand temporomandibular joint disorders, including common causes of jaw pain and clicking, and the range of conservative and surgical treatments available.
Botox Injections for Masseter Muscle Pain and Clenching
Botulinum toxin injections targeting the masseter muscles offer targeted relief for chronic jaw clenching, bruxism, and associated myofascial pain. This clinical guide explains the mechanism of action, procedural expectations, diagnostic pathways, evidence base, and safety considerations.
Stress and Anxiety Teeth Grinding Prevention Strategies
Stress teeth grinding, or bruxism, involves involuntary jaw clenching and tooth gnashing driven by autonomic nervous system arousal. This evidence-based guide outlines its physiological mechanisms, diagnostic protocols, clinical splint therapies, behavioural interventions, and long-term joint and dental protection.
Teeth Grinding in Children During Sleep: Causes and Solutions
Paediatric sleep bruxism involves involuntary rhythmic masticatory muscle activity and tooth grinding during sleep. Most cases in young children are self-limiting and linked to neural development or transient airway obstruction, though severe cases require multidisciplinary evaluation.
Understanding TMJ Disc Displacement With and Without Reduction
This clinical guide explains temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement with and without reduction. It details joint anatomy, progression from clicking to closed lock, Wilkes staging, diagnostic imaging, conservative therapies, surgical options, and red-flag symptoms.
TMJ Arthroscopy
TMJ arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for diagnosing and treating joint issues, offering precise visualisation and effective correction of internal joint problems safely.