The jaw joint, formally known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short, is the part of our jaw that glides down and forward when we open our mouth. A small, soft, lubricated disk, known as the articular disk, exists between the rounded end of the jaw bone and the skull, and it allows the mouth to open smoothly.
Unfortunately, the disk may not be big enough or the correct shape, causing crepitus—the grating, crackling, and popping sound that people hear at their joints.
Don't worry, though; it's as common as it is irritating. A doctor analyzed 1099 jaws of dental hygiene students between 1970 and 1986 and found that 61.2% had no popping or clicking sound and 38.9% did have the popping (17.1% on the right side, 12.7% on the left side, and 9.1% on both sides).
Now go eat a big burger, and try to ignore that annoying pop!
