When the jaw clicks or grates: causes and what to check

Jaw clicking means a click that pops or a grating sound that comes from the jaw joint in front of the ear when you open or close your mouth. In Korea, the National Health Information Portal lists jaw joint noise, together with pain and limited jaw movement, as a main symptom of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The sound alone cannot settle the cause, so check whether pain or a catching feeling comes with it and, if needed, confirm with a dental exam.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Where jaw sounds come from	The jaw joint in front of the ear, when opening and closing the mouth (source: Seoul National University Hospital)
How common jaw joint signs are	About 75% of Westerners have at least one sign such as joint sounds or tenderness (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Type of sound	A clicking sound or a grating sound (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단))
Exam method	Listening to the joint sounds with a stethoscope or feeling them by hand (source: KDCA National Health Information Portal)
Checking the articular disc	MRI is particularly useful for checking changes in the articular disc and soft tissue (source: NHIS)

Why does the jaw make sounds?

Inside the jaw joint is an articular disc that acts as a cushion between the lower jawbone and the skull. When you open your mouth, the rounded head of the lower jawbone slides forward and moves together with this disc, and if the disc position is off or the movement is not smooth, the jaw can make sounds.

Seoul National University Hospital's medical information explains that in diagnosing TMD, disc displacement, degenerative arthritis, inflammation and adhesions are distinguished from one another. This means the cause can differ from person to person even for the same jaw sound, so the exam result matters more than the name of the sound.

Jaw sounds can also appear in people who have injured the jaw or have arthritis. The National Health Information Portal lists past trauma and rheumatic disease as biological contributing factors to TMD.

Do a click and a grating sound mean different things?

NHIS material describes jaw joint noise as a clicking or grating sound. A click that pops once and a grating sound like rubbing sand feel different, but the type of sound alone does not determine the state of the jaw joint.

Writing down whether the sound occurs only when opening or also when closing, since when it started and whether pain comes with it will help at the exam. Seoul National University Hospital's medical information explains that in TMD left untreated for a long time, degenerative changes with worn joint bone are sometimes seen on X-rays.

Which symptoms with jaw sounds call for attention?

More than the jaw sound itself, the symptoms that accompany it are the benchmark for deciding when to go. If any of the following overlap with jaw sounds, it is a good idea to have the dentist check the state of the jaw joint.

Besides joint noise, the National Health Information Portal also lists limited jaw movement and asymmetry of the jaw shape as symptoms of TMD. If these changes are added to the sound, there may be a problem with jaw joint function beyond a simple joint sound.

The jaw that used to make sounds one day catches and the mouth opens less
Pain in front of the ear when chewing food or yawning
The lower jaw shifts to one side when opening the mouth
The bite changes, such as a gap opening between the upper and lower front teeth
Pain at the temple or around the ear keeps recurring along with the jaw sound

How does a dentist check jaw sounds?

The simple exam introduced by the National Health Information Portal consists of measuring the range of mouth opening and side-to-side movement, checking for tenderness of the jaw joint, and listening to and feeling the joint sounds. During the exam, you are asked to open and close your mouth slowly while the dentist watches at what point the sound occurs and which way the lower jaw shifts.

If needed, X-rays or CT show the shape of the jawbone, and the position of the articular disc is checked with MRI. Whether imaging is done is decided from the symptoms and exam findings, so not everyone with jaw sounds gets an MRI.

In the history, the dentist also asks whether you grind or clench your teeth, whether you have injured your jaw, and whether there was stress or a life change around the time the jaw sounds began. This information is used in a treatment plan to find and reduce the contributing factors that produce the sound.

What can I do in daily life when my jaw makes sounds?

Seoul National University Hospital's medical information advises being careful not to open the mouth suddenly wide and limiting hard, tough foods such as dried squid. If you have a habit of opening wide when you yawn or bite into big food, try cutting back little by little.

The same material explains avoiding actions that needlessly twist or strain the jaw outside of eating and talking. Deliberately moving the jaw around to check whether it makes noise also puts repeated strain on the joint, so it is better to cut back on it.

Resting the chin on a hand and sleeping on your side are also items that Seoul National University Hospital's medical information lists as bad habits that lead to TMD. Change postures that keep force on one side of the jaw for a long time, and get into the habit of dividing chewing between the molars on both sides.

Common myths and facts

Myth: If your jaw makes sounds, you will end up needing surgery.

The National Health Information Portal explains that for TMD, reversible treatment comes first and arthroscopy or jaw joint surgery is considered in special cases.

Myth: Jaw sounds always get worse with age.

The National Health Information Portal explains that TMD is often self-limiting and its prevalence falls with age. However, individual courses differ, so if pain appears it needs to be checked.

Frequently asked questions

Is it common for the jaw to make sounds?

According to the National Health Information Portal, in a study of Korean university students, 53% had at least one subjective symptom of TMD. Signs such as jaw sounds are not rare, but what matters more is whether functional problems such as pain or limited mouth opening come with them. The same material explains that the signs and symptoms of TMD increase from the teens to the thirties, so if jaw sounds start at a young age, it is worth checking your habits first.

My jaw was making sounds and suddenly stopped. Did it get better?

If the sound stopped and the mouth now opens less than before or the jaw feels like it catches, the state of the jaw joint may have changed and an exam is needed. If only the sound went away and there is no change in mouth opening or pain, tell the dentist about the course at your regular checkup and discuss it. Writing down when the sound stopped and whether discomfort appeared afterward when yawning or eating large food will help at the exam.

Does the sound on only one side mean I chew on that side?

Seoul National University Hospital's medical information lists the habit of chewing on one side only (unilateral chewing) as one of the causes of TMD and advises chewing evenly on both sides. However, the cause of a sound on one side differs from person to person, and some people end up chewing on one side because of a missing molar or an ill-fitting prosthesis, so the condition of the teeth is checked together at the exam.

Do I have to get an MRI for jaw sounds?

Not every jaw sound needs an MRI. An MRI is considered when a disc problem is suspected at the exam or when pain and limited mouth opening continue, and the bone shape can also be checked with X-rays or CT. It is a good idea to ask the clinic about the cost of imaging and whether insurance applies before the test.

Can I chew gum when my jaw makes sounds?

The National Health Information Portal lists gum chewing as one of the behavioral contributing factors to TMD. While you have jaw sounds and pain, cut back on the habit of chewing gum for a long time, and even after symptoms settle, it is better to avoid chewing for long periods.

References

Korean version →