In this article, we will be discussing the reasons why teeth click when pushed with the tongue. There are many reasons why you might hear a clicking sound anytime you push your teeth with your tongue. They may be a sign of gum disorders, infections, heretical diseases, or even TMJ disorder. Sometimes our hygiene routine can even be the cause.
Its very important to know that persistent tooth clicking can cause excessive wear and tear on the enamel, causing teeth to become flattened, chipped, or even fractured. So, it’s good advice to take immediate action anytime you notice any change in your teeth.
What Are The Causes of Teeth Clicking When Pushed With Tongue?
Teeth clicking when pushed with the tongue can be caused by many factors, including:
1. Gum Disease (like periodontitis)
Gum infections, like periodontitis, happen when nasty bacteria attack your gums, causing trouble. But it’s not just the gums; they also mess with the bones that hold your teeth.
When these bad bacteria weaken your gums and the tooth-holding bones, your gums can’t grip your teeth well anymore. You might even hear popping or clicking sounds when you chew. If you don’t treat it, your teeth can get loose.
This commonly develops because of poor dental habits, like eating junk food or not brushing properly.
Signs of Gum Infections
You may be having a gum infection if you notice any of the following signs:
- Your gums puff up and get sore.
- Your teeth hurt when you eat or drink hot or cold stuff.
- Your teeth hurt when you chew your food.
- Your gums turn reddish instead of staying pink.
- If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, if you don’t treat them, you could lose some teeth.
- If your breath smells bad.
- If your gums feel squishy.
How to Treat Gum Disease
Gum disease, called periodontitis, can be treated in easy ways. Here’s how:
- Use antibiotics like tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin, and brush your teeth twice a day. Don’t forget to floss once every day.
- Stop smoking and cut down on drinking.
- Always visit your dentist.
- To make your teeth look better, getting professional treatment like cleaning and polishing can help.
- Makes your teeth stronger by using fluoride treatments.
- To get rid of gunk between your teeth, try using plaque removal.
2. TMJ disorders
Having a TMJ disorder can make it feel like your back teeth are clicking together. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint, which is the joint between your lower jaw and your skull.
When this joint is not working well, you might hear clicking sounds, almost like your teeth are clicking when you press on them. This happens because the jaw joint is under stress. Kids might get this problem if they grind their teeth or clench their jaws a lot, especially when they’re stressed.
Stress can make it worse. It might make you grind your teeth more, tighten your jaw, or clench your teeth, and that’s when you hear the clicking and feel the jaw tension.
Other Possible Signs of TMJ disorder
- Your face and jaw might feel uncomfortable to you.
- Chewing or biting can be hard for you
- Sometimes, you might even get headaches or feel a bit dizzy.
- In some serious cases, your ears might hurt, and your hearing could get worse.
- Your jaw might sometimes get stuck, and your ears might ring.
If you notice these things above, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.
How to manage and treat TMJ disorder
There are ways to find relief from TMJ disorder. Sometimes, TMJ disorders go away on their own, but if they stick around, here are some ways to make them better:
- Try using mouth guards. They are like special shields for your teeth. They stop your teeth from feeling too much pressure, which can make you feel better.
- Some simple jaw exercises can help your jaw muscles relax and stretch, which can ease the discomfort.
- Different medications, like antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-depressants, pain relievers, or muscle relaxants, can help you feel better.
- In severe cases, neurotoxins are injected to help with the pain.
- If nothing else works, there are surgeries that can help, like:
- Arthrocentesis: This is a small dental surgery where they use tiny needles to clean up your jaw joint.
- TMJ Arthroscopy: Another small surgery where they use a tiny camera and tools to fix things inside your joint. It’s less risky than open surgery.
3. Some bad habits
Sometimes, our teeth start making clicking sounds, and it’s often because we’re not treating them right. Our teeth are meant for biting food, not other stuff. When we bite on things like pens, pencils, fingernails, hard plastic, or stones, it can make our teeth move out of place and become loose.
So, if you hear your teeth clicking, it might be because you’ve been chewing on things you shouldn’t. To keep your teeth healthy, stick to using them for eating food and avoid biting on things that can harm them. That way, you can enjoy a healthy smile without any clicking troubles.
4. Aging
Teeth clicking often happens when we get older. As we age, our bones, including the ones holding our teeth, become weaker. Our gums lose some of their strength too, and our jaw joints become less flexible.
All these changes naturally occur with age and can lead to teeth clicking sounds.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why do my teeth click when I eat?
Sometimes, teeth click when you eat because they may not be aligning correctly. This can happen if your bite is a bit off or you have dental issues like loose teeth or dental work that’s not fitting right.
How do I stop my teeth from clicking?
To stop your teeth from clicking, it’s a good idea to see a dentist. They can check if there are any dental problems causing it. They might suggest treatments like dental work or adjusting your bite to make it better.
Is clicking teeth normal?
Clicking teeth can be normal for some people, especially if it happens occasionally and doesn’t cause pain. But if it’s happening a lot or causing discomfort, it’s best to get it checked by a dentist to make sure there are no underlying issues.
Conclusion
If your teeth are clicking when pushed with your tongue, it could be due to various factors. It is important to remember that occasional clicking may not be a cause for concern. However, if this clicking is persistent, uncomfortable, or accompanied by other dental issues, it’s advisable to consult a dentist.
Dental problems, misalignment, or issues with dental work could be contributing to the clicking sensation, and a dentist can assess the situation and recommend appropriate treatments to address the issue and ensure your dental health.
