Jaw clicking is such a weird thing—it’s like one day it’s super noticeable, then you barely notice it for weeks. Mine actually did get a lot better after braces, but it never totally disappeared. I do think the elastics helped line things up, though. Headaches were on and off for me too, especially when my bite was shifting a lot. I always wondered if that was just part of the process or if I was clenching more without realizing it...
That weird “on and off” jaw clicking is honestly so relatable. Mine started back in high school, and braces helped a lot, but it’s never been 100% gone, either. I remember thinking the elastics were torture at first, but after a while my jaw did feel more stable. Still, every now and then—especially if I’ve been stressed or grinding my teeth at night—it’ll come back with a vengeance.
Headaches were definitely part of my journey too, mostly during the months when things were shifting. My ortho said it was pretty common because your muscles are trying to get used to the new bite. I do think clenching played a role for me, especially since I’d wake up with a sore jaw some mornings. Wearing a nightguard helped cut down on both the headaches and the clicking, though it took a bit to get used to.
It’s wild how much our jaws can impact everything from headaches to sleep... Even now, years later, I still catch myself checking if things are lined up right. It’s kind of comforting to know other people are having the same weird journey.
It’s wild how much our jaws can impact everything from headaches to sleep... Even now, years later, I still catch myself checking if things are lined up right.
Totally get this. It’s like the jaw has a mind of its own sometimes. I used to think I was just being paranoid, but turns out, that constant “is my bite right?” check is super common. Nightguard helped me too, but man, those first few nights felt like sleeping with a mouthful of plastic. Worth it for fewer headaches, though.
Nightguard helped me too, but man, those first few nights felt like sleeping with a mouthful of plastic.
Haha, totally relate. I remember waking up half convinced I’d accidentally swallowed mine or something. It’s wild how much those little tweaks—like a guard or even jaw stretches—can change everything. I used to get these random earaches that turned out to be jaw-related. Never would’ve guessed. The “is my bite right?” check is basically my new hobby at this point...
The “is my bite right?” check is basically my new hobby at this point...
I laughed at this because I catch myself doing that all the time—like, I’ll just be sitting there, clenching and unclenching, and suddenly I’m spiraling: “Wait, did my teeth always touch like that? Was that click there yesterday?” It’s weird how you start noticing every single thing once you know your jaw’s been off.
Honestly, I’m still not totally convinced my nightguard is helping. I mean, it’s definitely better than waking up with jaw pain, but sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and it feels like it’s shifted or something. Then I get paranoid—did I mess up my bite more by wearing it wrong? My dentist swears it’s fine, but I second-guess everything now.
I used to get headaches that would just not go away, and for the longest time I blamed screens or stress. Turns out, it was probably clenching in my sleep. The earaches thing you mentioned? Same. I actually went to my GP about it before anyone even suggested it was jaw-related. Who knew your jaw could mess with your ears?
Jaw stretches are another thing I have mixed feelings about. Sometimes they help, but other times I worry I’m making it worse if I overdo it. My anxiety brain loves to catastrophize—like, what if I’m stretching the wrong way and making my jaw looser or something? Probably irrational but…yeah.
I keep reading stories about people who got their bite “fixed” and then had new problems pop up. It makes me hesitant to try anything too drastic. For now, it’s nightguard roulette and way too much self-monitoring in the mirror. At least there are others out there obsessively checking their bite too—it’s oddly comforting.
