All articles
TMJ & Jaw Pain
6 min read5 Signs Your Jaw Clicking Is More Serious Than You Think
FFC
By the Doctors of Flintridge Family Chiropractic
Team chiropractors for USWNT, LAFC & LA Galaxy · 50+ years combined experience
Not sure if your jaw clicking needs a doctor? Our La Cañada Flintridge chiropractors walk through the warning signs that mean it's time to get checked.
Most cases of jaw clicking are frustrating but not dangerous. That said, there are specific patterns we take seriously — and if any of these apply to you, don't wait.
Clicking or popping in the jaw is usually a sign the disc inside the TMJ isn't tracking correctly — a very common and treatable pattern.
The Red Flags
- Pain that wakes you up at night and doesn't ease with position change.
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness that's spreading or getting worse.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control, or new numbness in the saddle area — this is a rare emergency, go to the ER.
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or night sweats alongside the pain.
- Pain that's steadily worsening over weeks despite rest and self-care.

The Yellow Flags Worth Getting Checked
Book Your Visit
Call (818) 707-5724 or book online. Same-week appointments in La Cañada Flintridge — serving Pasadena, Glendale, La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, and Altadena.
Ready to feel better?
New patient consultations available this week.
