Jaw Movement While Eating: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

Possible causes:

- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ): This is a condition that affects the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. It can cause pain, clicking, and popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.

- Jaw dislocation: This occurs when the bones of your jaw come out of their normal alignment. It can be caused by a sudden impact, such as a blow to the face, or by a chronic condition, such as TMJ.

- Muscle spasms: The muscles that control your jaw can go into spasms, which can cause your jaw to move in and out of place.

- Nerve damage: Damage to the nerves that control your jaw can also cause it to move in and out of place.

When to see a doctor:

- You have severe pain, swelling, or bruising around your jaw.

- Your jaw is locked open or closed.

- You have difficulty eating, speaking, or swallowing.

- The problem is getting worse or is not resolving on its own.

Treatment:

- The treatment for your jaw moving in and out of place will depend on the cause.

- For TMJ, treatment may include pain relievers, ice packs, heat therapy, and exercises to strengthen the muscles around your jaw.

- For jaw dislocation, treatment may involve manually repositioning the bones of your jaw.

- For muscle spasms, treatment may include muscle relaxants, heat therapy, and massage.

- For nerve damage, treatment may involve surgery to repair the damaged nerves.

Prevention:

- There is no sure way to prevent your jaw from moving in and out of place, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk, such as:

- Avoiding hard foods, such as nuts and candy.

- Chewing on both sides of your mouth.

- Limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol.

- Getting regular exercise to strengthen the muscles around your jaw.

- Wearing a mouthguard if you play contact sports.