become a contributor
HEALTH
Your Bod
My jaw won't stop cracking
My jaw won’t stop cracking. For a long time, my jaw would crack or pop when I moved my jaw back and forth or side to side. Then, it started to happen when I chewed taffy-like candy. Now, it does it when I chew almost anything, and most times I am so accustomed to it that I don¹t even realize it, and someone else hears it and says something. What should I do? Should I worry?
Hey girl! It sounds like your experiencing some trouble with your temporomandibular joint, also known as your TMJ. I know, I know, English please? It’s a joint between your jaw and skull, right near your ear, that can be extremely overused and can sometimes slip out of place.
If you are a frequent gum or candy chewer, it’s likely that your TMJ is being overworked. When you overdo it, you may hear a popping noise. Grinding your teeth and having an overbite or under bite can also cause the sound.
Now the question is, do you need to see a doctor? If the popping continues to happen, give your jaw a break. Don’t chew foods like gum, taffy or crusty bread for a few days. Instead, try to eat foods like soup, applesauce and yogurt. If it starts to hurt, try to put a warm towel on it to help it relax.
Make a serious effort to be more in tune with your bod and what it’s doing at all times. Do you find yourself grinding your teeth while you’re doing your homework? Do you clench your jaw when you’re mad at your BFF? If so, try to catch yourself in time to relax your mouth in order to prevent future popping noises.
If none of this helps, see a dentist and he or she will give you some more tips on how to fix it.
We want to hear from you! Send us your weirdest body questions here (seriously, we'll answer anything!) and it just might get featured.
LOVE THIS
Enter your nature girl era 🌸
The best way to escape the stress of the holidays? Snag our enchanting new Bestie Book Club pick, Greenwild (plus the sequel!) and get inspired to reconnect with Mother Nature. Click HERE to check out the book and read along with us!
FREE STUFF
