Jaw Clicking or Popping When You Chew: When to See a Dentist

By Dr. Boris Zusin · Published August 1, 2026

A clicking or popping jaw is common enough that many people live with it for years without a second thought — and on its own, occasional clicking with no pain often doesn't need treatment. But there's a point where it's worth having looked at.

What's Actually Happening

The clicking sound usually comes from the small disc inside the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) shifting slightly out of its normal position as the jaw opens and closes. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, temporomandibular disorders are common and can range from mild and self-limiting to genuinely disruptive.

When It's Worth a Visit

Sound alone, without pain or limited movement, often isn't urgent. It becomes worth evaluating when clicking is paired with jaw pain, soreness in the muscles around your ears or temples, the jaw locking open or shut, a noticeably reduced range of motion, or a bite that suddenly feels different than it used to.

What Treatment Can Look Like

Depending on what's driving it, treatment can range from a custom nightguard to reduce clenching and grinding, to a TMJ appliance designed to support better jaw positioning, to simple lifestyle changes like avoiding excessive gum chewing. We'll examine your bite and jaw movement to figure out what's actually contributing before recommending anything.

Dealing with jaw pain along with the clicking? Learn more about our TMJ appliance treatment.