My jaw pops when I open my mouth, it just started doing this about 3
weekd ago now and I'm worried what I should do. Please advise if you
think you know the answer. Thank you for your time.

Hi there, and commiserations on an irritating problem!

May I first draw your attention to Google's good warning, that
"Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general
information, and are not intended to substitute for informed
professional medical... advice". With that in mind, let me address
your question.

By far the most likely cause of your jaw popping, is what is known as
TMJ. TMJ, or "temporomandibular joint disease", is well known, but the
causes have never been properly understood. The main symptoms are:

* facial pain; jaw joint pain; often in combination with neck,
shoulder, back pain and/or headaches
* popping, grating or clicking sounds with movement of the jaw joint

Over 10 million people in the USA experience TMJ at any given time, so
it's certainly not a rare problem. But doctors appear to be rather
divided on how to treat it - I quote: "At present, there are more than
50 treatments in use ranging from very conservative, reversible
therapies to more aggressive, invasive approaches".

(from: http://www.tmj.org/basics.asp )

The good news is, that it's usually a minor condition, and assuming
that it's not causing you too much pain, it's something you probably
need not worry about. I quote:

"It is important to remember that the majority of TMJ patients
experience temporary discomfort and gradually get better with or
without treatment."

(from: http://www.tmj.org/basics2.asp in bold face, halfway down the
page)

A close friend of mine experiences this condition, and has done, on
and off, for many years. It irritates her sometimes, but she doesn't
consider it as a major problem for her.

This appears to be the most likely cause of your problem. However, I
would recommend staying aware of your condition, and if it gets worse,
or continues to worry you, I would strongly urge you to visit a doctor
for professional advice, and a concrete diagnosis.

For more information on the condition, http://www.tmj.org is an
excellent starting resource. You may also wish to visit:

The American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (what a welcoming name!): 

http://www.aacfp.org/

The TMJ Foundation:

http://www.tmjoints.org/

I hope this helps you out. If there's anything that needs further
explanation, then don't hesitate to request clarification before
rating this answer.

My best wishes for a speedy recovery!

-- seizer-ga

Search terms: "TMJ", "TMJ resources"

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Request for Answer Clarification by pcdepotusa-ga on 03 Nov 2002 17:18 PST

I tend to grind my teeth at night so I thought somehow this was tied
into the reason my jaw was poping. Would this TMJ still apply to me?

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Clarification of Answer by seizer-ga on 03 Nov 2002 17:41 PST

Yes! It could very well be related! Teeth grinding is known in the
medical literature as "bruxism", and it could well even be the cause
of TMJ. I quote:

"Disorders of the TMJ are caused by the following:- Grinding or
clenching teeth which may be stress related...."

(from: http://www.mosmandentist.com.au/more-info-on/tmj/ )

One site even claims that it is the most common cause of disorders in
that joint, saying:

"This constant pressure also can damage the TMJs over time. Bruxism is
the most common factor found in TMD."

(from: http://www.stevedds.com/tmd.htm )

Suggestions to remedy bruxism range from the basic (attempting to lead
a more relaxed lifestyle) to the complex (sessions of autohypnosis;
see here: http://goinside.com/98/3/bruxism.html )

This sounds like it may be the root cause of your problem, and should
perhaps be what you address first.

Best wishes,

-- seizer-ga

Thank you for your insight on this matter...