Cracking Jaw - What is it and is it common?

[charlottecharade]

The past year or so I have been chewing A LOT of gum. I started out at a couple of pieces a day until I was literally chewing 1/2 a pack a day. My jaw was in constant motion, whether it was chewing gum between meals or acutally eating the meals.

Well, so I've noticed my jaw cracks when I open it up, even if it's not that far. It's ESPECIALLY annoying when I make out because my jaw is clicking like crazy! It clicks when I open my mouth, clicks again when closing, and so the cycle continues.

I'm wondering if this is a health concern I should check out, or is it just normal? Do other people experience a clicking jaw that feels "stuck" if you open your mouth to far? Does this have something to do with my excessive gum chewing (which I think influences it to some degree)?

I really don't want this issue to hinder my kissing ability!

[JJH]

I had this same thing happen to me a few years ago. Good news for you: its completely curable.

First point is: don't chew so much gum - more for the imbalance it creates in your bowels, and for the other ingredient it contains when taken in large doses causes all sorts of allergic reactions if you are that way inclined (can't remember what it's called sorry).

Second point is this: the jaw is not fixed to the skull like a typical hinge, and doesn't naturally have the ability to click. It's something you are doing yourself, probably out of habit. Do you feel like you need to click it back into place? Don't. You don't need to. The jaw will return to its free and natural state in time.

Cut out the gum, decide not to click it - and enjoy making out!

I think it took me a few weeks to get my jaw back to normal. By the way, I'm no doctor and this ain't a diagnosis. Just my experience. Go see a doctor if you're unsure.

[Old Soul]

It sounds like "TMJ"

Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ), the joint where the mandible (the lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. A small disc of cartilage separates the bones, much like in the knee joint, so that the mandible may slide easily; each time you chew you move it. But you also move it every time you talk and each time you swallow (every three minutes or so). It is, therefore, one of the most frequently used of all joints of the body and one of the most complex.


TMJ

you might want to check with your doctor, it can be severe enough that you have to wear a gaurd at night

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

It sounds like "TMJ"

Good observation Old Soul...

What I have found in clinical work was that the problem is usually due to hypertonicity (tension) of the masseter muscle

My theory is that such tension is due the an unconscious blockage in communication... the patient resists communicating some important or meaningful communication or message...
.

[Matthew Shea]

I agree with Old Soul and Shamou. Sounds like TMJ or Lock Jaw as it's commonly known. Your symptoms could also be caused by unconscious teeth clenching (which I personally do a lot) or by wisdom teeth that should have been removed.

The first thing I'd suggest is to stop chewing the gum and see if the problem subsides.

[Razo]

yeah, my girlfriend also has this issue, though it seems to be subsiding.. though i must say that we've never had a kissing problem hahaha. obviously, your going to have to decrease the amount of gum you have... once you start taking more care of your jaw and its still there it might be a good idea to see a doctor.

[CoryLehan]

I had the same problem about 2 months ago. I was really worried because it kept getting worse, but after about 2 or 3 weeks it went away ('cause I quit popping it).

Do what JJH said. That's what I did and it went away in only a few days. It might seem tough to not pop it (you might need to eat slowly for a day so it doesn't pop), but it helped me out .

If it still pops for another week or so, I'd suggest seeing a doctor.

[realignedliving]

"Sounds like TMJ or Lock Jaw as it's commonly known."

Lock jaw is trismus (which itself is a sign of tetanus) TMJ is neither of those.

[opinestle]

Hi

I bet if you stop chewing gum all the time it will eventually (the clicking)subside.But when I read your original post,I thought it *might*be TMJ,and immediately thought about a family member of mine that has TMJ.Personally,I don't know much about it,but your symptoms vaguely reminded me of hers.
Anywhoo,her DR referred her to an orthodontist to have a consult on getting braces to gradually help realign her jaw.(she ended up getting them)Maybe it would be conducive to you to talk to your PCD about this.
I do know that if you decide to just let this go while continuing to have symptoms that get progressively worse,you could find yourself in a great deal of pain.This is what happened to my family member, thus causing her to seek the help of an orthodontist.
I hope this helped

[bdp]

I had TMJ when I was a teenager, and it went away on its own after a few months.