Reading Time: 10 min read 
Published: 19/03/2024 
Last Updated: 20/03/2024 
Does your jaw click on one side with certain movements? Jaw clicking can be disconcerting, especially when you also have jaw pain or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Problems with your jaw, including jaw clicking on one side, fall into the category of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). TMD affects 60-70% of people at some point in their life, although only 5% of people with symptoms of TMD will seek treatment [1].
Here, we’ll explore what causes jaw clicking on one side, how it’s diagnosed and how to treat it. Every assessment and TMJ treatment method discussed is offered by our expert clinicians.
What causes jaw clicking on one side?
Several habits and medical conditions can cause one-sided jaw clicking. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching)
- Stress
- Arthritis
- Disc displacement
- Malocclusion
- Jaw injury
Bruxism
You may be unaware if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw because these behaviours are common during sleep. Sleep bruxism affects 8% of people and is linked to poor sleep quality and chronic pain [2].
Teeth grinding or clenching during sleep often causes pain around the jaw, which can be severe [3]. It can also cause jaw clicking on one or both sides. Although more common during sleep, some people subconsciously grind or clench their teeth throughout the day.
Stress and anxiety
Research shows stress and anxiety are closely linked to bruxism when awake, but there is no evidence that they affect sleep bruxism [4]. Stress or anxiety may play a role if you catch yourself clenching or grinding your teeth during the day.
Stress and anxiety are also closely linked to muscle activity around the jaw and neck. Higher levels of stress are linked to increased activity in the masticatory (chewing) muscles, which can cause or worsen jaw clicking and other symptoms of TMD [5].
Arthritis
Arthritis in your jaw joint can cause clicking, pain, and stiffness. Several different types of arthritis can cause clicking in your jaw and other symptoms of TMD.
The most common of these is osteoarthritis of your jaw joint – where the bones and cartilage in your joint become worn down over time. This is more common in older people [6].
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints, causing them to break down. RA can affect any joint in your body, including your jaw joint. 1% of people worldwide have RA, and it is more common in women than men [7].
Psoriatic arthritis is another type of arthritis that can affect your jaw joint. This condition occurs in people with psoriasis, which causes large patches of skin to become red and flaky. Around 35% of people with psoriatic arthritis experience symptoms in their jaw joint [8].
Disc displacement
If the movement pattern of your jaw is abnormal, the disc (the cartilage that divides your jaw joint into two parts) can move out of place [9]. Once the disc has moved, it will either remain displaced or return to its original place [9]. When the disc remains out of place, it’s called displacement without reduction, and when it returns to its original place, it’s called displacement with reduction.
Disc displacement without reduction does not cause clicking in the jaw, but you won’t be able to open your mouth fully. Disc displacement with reduction causes clicking or popping in the jaw joint and pain with jaw movements, like chewing [9].
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is when your teeth aren’t aligned properly and don’t fit together as they should when you bite down. Some types of malocclusion are associated with the symptoms of TMD, like pain, clicking and stiffness [10].
Jaw injury
Unsurprisingly, an injury to your jaw joint – such as a blow to the face – can affect how the joint moves. Injuries to the jaw joint can cause clicking, pain, stiffness, swelling and other symptoms of TMD. For severe injuries, you may need jaw surgery.
Diagnosis of jaw clicking on one side
When you attend an appointment with one of our consultants, they will start by taking a detailed medical history and examining the timeline of your symptoms. They may listen to your jaw for clicking sounds and observe how it moves as you open and close it.
They may press certain areas of your jaw to look for tenderness and feel for any abnormalities in movement. If required, they will arrange further investigation.
This may include diagnostic imaging, such as:
- Dental X-rays to examine your jaw joint and teeth
- An MRI scan, which can show problems with the disc or soft tissue around the joint
- A CT scan to give detailed images of the bones of your jaw joint
Your consultant may organise a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy, in which a cannula (a thin tube) with a light and camera attached is inserted into your jaw joint. This can give a detailed view of the joint and help with diagnosis.
How to treat jaw clicking on one side
Many cases of jaw clicking are mild and don’t require any treatment. However, you may wish to seek treatment if your symptoms are bothering you or if you have other symptoms of TMD.
Common treatments for jaw clicking include:
- Regenerative medicine
- Surgery
- Physiotherapy and exercises
Your clinician can also advise you on home treatments and lifestyle changes. These include hot and cold therapy, pain medication and stress management.
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine uses the healing power of your body to support growth, repair, and regeneration. These treatments involve taking cells with regenerative capabilities from different areas of your body, processing them and reinjecting them to the area that needs help with healing – in this case, the jaw joint.
Regenerative treatments are low-risk because the samples come from your own body. This type of medicine offers a potential way to avoid surgery and cure TMJ disorders permanently. Harley Street Specialist Hospital works with world-leading consultants who specialise in the following types of regenerative medicine:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy – A blood sample is taken from your arm and processed to separate the platelets. Platelets are cells that play a key role in the healing process. These concentrated platelets are then injected into your jaw joint.
- Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP®) – This treatment combines PRP therapy and Lipogems®. Lipogems® involves extracting adipose (fat) tissue from your stomach or thigh, and then processing this into concentrated regenerative cells. Adipose tissue is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells that can activate regenerative processes when injected into joints. [11] The samples collected from PRP and Lipogems® are injected into your jaw joint.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) – Bone marrow is extracted from the centre of your bones and then processed to concentrate the stem cells. Stem cells can develop into the type of cells your body needs when injected into your jaw joint.
Surgery
You may need surgery if you have suffered trauma to your jaw joint or if it has not improved with other types of treatment. Harley Street Specialist Hospital’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in the following types of private TMJ disorder treatments:
- TMJ arthroscopy – As previously discussed, this is often used for diagnosis. But an arthroscopy can also help to treat TMD, as your surgeon can remove and alter tissue as needed or remove fluid from the joint (arthrocentesis).
- TMJ open surgery – For open surgery, a larger incision is required to access your jaw joint. This allows your surgeon to remove larger areas of bone or tissue and adjust the position of your disc as needed. You may receive an artificial disc if it can’t be repaired.
- TMJ replacement – Your surgeon creates an artificial jaw joint to replace your damaged joint. Your damaged jaw joint is removed and replaced with the artificial one, then you spend a week in hospital before returning home to recover. You will be followed up regularly to ensure your recovery process is going smoothly.
Physiotherapy and exercises
Our physiotherapists are skilled in the assessment and treatment of jaw joint disorders. If you book a physiotherapy appointment at Harley Street Specialist Hospital, your first appointment will start with an in-depth assessment of your symptom history and the movement of your jaw.
Your physiotherapist may use manual therapy, acupuncture, massage or electrotherapy to relieve any pain around your jaw and encourage tight muscles to relax. Usually, they will also prescribe tailored home exercises to treat tight or weak muscles.
Below, you’ll find a set of exercises that may improve symptoms of a clicking jaw. The goal of these exercises is to gradually restore normal movement in your jaw, reduce clicking and ease any discomfort.
It’s best to consult a physiotherapist before starting new exercises to ensure they’re suitable for you and you’re doing them correctly. Your physio can advise on how many times you should be doing each exercise – a good place to start is six repetitions of each exercise, several times per day.
Goldfish
- Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth
- Rest one finger on your TMJ (just in front of your ear)
- Place the index or middle finger of your other hand on your chin
- Gently open your mouth, keeping your tongue in place
- Close your mouth
Throughout this exercise, you should feel some mild resistance but no pain. Depending on how stiff your jaw joint is, you may open your mouth halfway or all the way during this exercise.
Jaw stabilisation
- Relax your jaw
- Place your thumb just below your chin and apply gentle pressure as you open your mouth
- Repeat this movement with your thumb slightly to the right, then slightly to the left
This exercise aims to build strength in the stabilising muscles of your jaw. This encourages normal movement patterns and helps to improve range and reduce pain over time.
Chin tucks
- Sit or stand, keeping your shoulders down and back
- Draw your head back on your body to make a double chin
- Hold for 3 seconds
This exercise helps to build strength in your deep neck flexor muscles and improve posture, which can ease symptoms of TMD. It also stretches the jaw joint without opening your mouth, which can be useful when mouth opening is painful.
Tongue lift
- Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth
- Keeping your tongue in place, open your mouth as far as you can
- Keep your tongue where it is and close your mouth
This exercise aims to gently stretch your jaw muscles and improve their range.
Side-to-side movement
- Place a small, clean object – like a craft stick – between your teeth
- Bite down gently on the object
- Shift your jaw left and right without loosening your grip on the object
This aims to improve the movement pattern of your jaw joint. You can use a thicker object if this exercise becomes too easy.
Private treatment for jaw clicking on one side
Our highly-trained clinicians can diagnose and treat a jaw that’s clicking on one side. Assessment, diagnosis and treatment, including diagnostic imaging if needed, can all take place at Harley Street Specialist Hospital.
If you’re struggling with a clicking jaw, help is available. Book an appointment today to see how we can help you.
