Jaw Pain: Snaps, Crackles & Pops
It all begins with an idea.
You’re about to take that first glorious bite of a sub sandwich when—bam!—your jaw completely locks up.
Maybe you visit the dentist, and they tell you to slap a heat pack on it, massage it in circles, and give up subs for good. Is this really your new reality? Avoiding your favorite food forever? I sure hope not.
Now, there might be valid reasons to avoid subs—like if you're cutting carbs or going gluten free. But jaw pain shouldn’t be one of them.
And yes, I’m from New Jersey, so let’s settle this—it's a sub, not a hoagie. But more importantly, my goal here is to help you understand why your jaw might be causing you problems in the first place.
Lets break down the top five reasons why your jaw might be making those snap, crackle, pops and locks:
TMJ Malalignment:
Disc Issues:
Tongue position: This is usually the most over looked aspect of jaw pain. Your tongue has a lot to do with how your jaw functions. If your tongue isnt resting up against the roof of your mouth, it can cause imbalance in the muscles that stabilize your jaw. It can also greatly impact how you chew food, swallow and breathe throughout the day.
Stress: Ever catch yourself clenching your jaw when you’re stressed? Stress causes us to tense up and that tension can often land itself right in the jaw- both while you’re awake or asleep. It also might create
Posture & Breathing: Head and neck posture are very interconnected. Proper alignment of the cervical spine,
Muscular Imbalance: There would be shorted or overworked muscles around the jaw
Old Injuries & Habits: Remember that time you got hit in the face with a soccer ball? or was that just me. Or maybe, you’ve been chewing gum on one side of your mouth for years? Chewing your sub sandwich on only one side? Our bodies have incredible memories- These old injuries and habits can create long term patterns and dysfunction in your jaw.
So there you have it- the top five reasons why your jaw might be snapping, crackling and popping, like your favorite breakfast cereal. The good news? you dont have to live with it. Whether its improving your posture, managing stress, working on your breathing patterns, there are ways to get that jaw moving smoothly again.
If you’re tired of dodging your favorite foods and get to the root of your jaw pain, I’m here to help.