Jaw Clicking With Invisalign: Why It Happens and What You Can Do
Hearing or feeling your jaw click while wearing clear aligners can be unsettling. If you are searching for jaw clicking with Invisalign, you probably want to know whether it is normal, who to speak to and what can help. This article explains what the research says about clear aligners and the jaw, why clicking or popping may happen, when to speak to your orthodontist, and how physiotherapy can assess your jaw.
Jaw clicking while wearing clear aligners can have several causes, and the sound alone does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your treatment. If clicking is accompanied by pain, stiffness, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth, speaking with your orthodontist is a sensible first step. Where temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction or muscle tension may also be contributing, physiotherapy can provide another perspective on jaw movement and function. For those seeking jaw-focused care in Balmain or across Sydney, Sydney TMJ Physio is one option to explore for TMJ-related concerns. An individual assessment can help determine whether physiotherapy may complement your orthodontic care and what approach is appropriate for your symptoms.
Understanding Jaw Clicking With Clear Aligners
Jaw sounds such as clicking or popping are common, and a click on its own is not always a problem. What matters most is whether it comes with pain, catching, limited opening or locking. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) works with the chewing muscles, so changes in how your teeth meet or how your muscles are working can sometimes make jaw sounds more noticeable.
A systematic review by Almalki and colleagues (2024) looked at studies of clear aligner therapy and the chewing muscles. Across six studies, the authors found that aligners were associated with a short-term change in chewing muscle activity early in treatment, which returned towards baseline at later follow-up. Some studies also reported more pain early on and a reduction in bite force. The authors described mild, self-limiting soreness in the chewing muscles and TMJ as expected during the adjustment period. They also noted that orthodontic treatment is not currently advocated as a treatment or prevention strategy for jaw disorders, because there is a lack of substantial evidence linking it to a higher risk of them. The review did not specifically examine joint clicking, and the authors called for more robust research.
Why is my jaw clicking when I wear Invisalign?
It is not possible to say from the outside what is behind your jaw clicking, and the timing alone does not show that your aligners are the cause. Jaw sounds are common and can appear before, during or after orthodontic treatment. A health professional will usually consider several possibilities, including the joint itself, muscle tension and everyday habits.
Muscle Adjustment Early in Treatment
The review by Almalki and colleagues reported temporary changes in chewing muscle activity and some muscle soreness as people adapt to aligners. When muscles feel tired or tight, jaw movement can feel different, and sounds may be more noticeable. These changes were described as temporary in the studies reviewed.
Clenching and Everyday Habits
Some of the studies in the review linked muscle soreness to clenching as the muscles adapt to the appliance. Clenching, nail biting, chewing gum and general tension through the jaw and neck can all load the jaw. A physiotherapist can help you notice which habits may be relevant to you.
Jaw Clicking and Popping After Invisalign
Some people notice jaw clicking after Invisalign treatment ends, or jaw popping after Invisalign when their bite feels different. A change in how the teeth meet can make jaw sounds more noticeable, but it does not automatically mean something is wrong. It is worth getting assessed if the sound comes with pain, limited opening, catching or locking, or if it is changing.
Speak to Your Orthodontist
Let your orthodontist know about any jaw clicking, pain or locking. They can review your treatment and advise how it should be considered alongside your jaw symptoms. Do not stop wearing your aligners or change how you wear them without their advice.
How do I get rid of the clicking sound in my jaw?
Clicks may change, stay the same or settle, and it is not possible to promise that a jaw sound will disappear. A more useful goal is a jaw that moves comfortably and smoothly, which is not the same as a silent jaw. Treatment is judged by how your jaw feels and functions, and not only by whether the sound goes away.
Start With an Assessment
A physiotherapist can assess how your jaw opens and closes, how the chewing muscles and neck behave, and what influences your symptoms. This also helps work out whether you should see your orthodontist, dentist or doctor as well.
What Physiotherapy May Include
Physiotherapy for jaw clicking may include education about what is happening, gentle manual therapy for tight muscles, guided jaw exercises that focus on smooth, controlled movement, and advice on habits that load the jaw. The plan is individualised, kept within a comfortable range and adjusted as your jaw responds, with a focus on long-term function and not only short-term relief.
What Not to Do
Avoid forcing the jaw to open wider, pushing through pain or trying to manipulate the joint yourself. If your jaw catches, locks or feels stuck, get it assessed instead of trying to work it free.
Is it normal for teeth to click with Invisalign?
Sounds from the teeth or aligners relate to how the aligners fit and how your teeth meet, which is a question for your orthodontist. This article cannot tell you whether the sounds from your own aligners are normal. What it can do is help you separate tooth and aligner sounds from sounds that come from the jaw joint.
Tooth Sounds and Jaw Joint Sounds Are Different
Aligner or tooth sounds are usually noticed around the teeth and when the aligners are seated or removed. Jaw joint sounds are usually felt in front of the ear when the jaw opens, closes or moves sideways. If you are not sure which you are hearing, describing it to your orthodontist and physiotherapist will help.
Questions to Ask Your Orthodontist
These questions may help your conversation:
Are the sounds I hear related to how my aligners fit?
Could my jaw symptoms be reviewed alongside my treatment?
Is it worth having my jaw assessed by a physiotherapist?
Who should I contact if my jaw gets stuck or the pain gets worse?
Jaw Locking and Braces
Some people notice jaw locking as well as clicking, whether they wear aligners or fixed braces. If you are searching for information about jaw lock with braces, the same principles apply. Timing alone does not show that braces are the cause, and a jaw that locks should be assessed rather than forced. Tell your orthodontist or dentist, and do not adjust or remove braces yourself.
When to Get Assessed or Seek Urgent Care
If your jaw clicks with pain, catches, locks, will not open as far as usual or affects eating, speaking or daily activities, an assessment is a sensible next step. Seek urgent medical or dental care if your jaw is stuck open or cannot close, or if jaw problems follow an injury or come with fever, facial swelling, signs of infection, or difficulty swallowing or breathing. Sydney TMJ Physiotherapy is a physiotherapy clinic and not an emergency service.
Common Myths About Jaw Clicking and Clear Aligners
Myth: Clear aligners always cause jaw clicking
Myth: If your jaw clicks during treatment, the aligners must be responsible.
What the evidence supports: Jaw sounds are common and can appear before, during or after treatment. The review found temporary changes in muscle activity and soreness early in treatment, but it did not show that aligners cause joint clicking.
Myth: A clicking jaw always means damage
Myth: A click is a sign something is broken.
What to know: Jaw sounds are common. What matters most is whether they come with pain, limited opening, catching or locking, which a health professional can help you assess.
Myth: Clear aligners will fix a clicking jaw
Myth: Straightening the teeth will stop the clicking.
What the evidence supports: The review authors note that orthodontic treatment is not currently advocated as a treatment or prevention strategy for jaw disorders, due to a lack of substantial evidence.
Myth: You should stop wearing aligners if your jaw clicks
Myth: Taking the aligners out will settle the jaw.
What to know: Decisions about your treatment belong with your orthodontist. Tell them about your symptoms rather than changing anything yourself.
Jaw-Friendly Habits While You Get Assessed
These general habits are low risk and may reduce strain on the jaw while you arrange an assessment:
Keep your lips together and teeth slightly apart when resting
Avoid wide yawning, large bites and chewing gum
Choose softer foods cut into small pieces while the jaw feels sore
Notice clenching, nail biting and tension through the day
Move your jaw only within a comfortable range and never force it
Tell your orthodontist if your jaw is sore, clicking or catching
Jaw Physiotherapy in Balmain, Sydney
At Sydney TMJ Physiotherapy in Balmain, our physiotherapists take an individualised, goal-oriented approach to jaw clicking, popping, pain and stiffness. Care starts with a thorough assessment and may include education, manual therapy, guided jaw exercises and habit advice, with a focus on long-term function.
If your jaw has been clicking or feeling different since starting clear aligners, you are welcome to book an appointment so we can talk through your symptoms and options. We can work alongside your orthodontist, dentist or doctor where that helps.
📅 Book a jaw pain physiotherapy session with Sydney TMJ Physiotherapy in Balmain and get a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
References
Almalki, S. A., Al Jameel, A. H., Gowdar, I. M., Langaliya, A., Vaddamanu, S. K., Di Blasio, M., Cervino, G., & Minervini, G. (2024). Impact of clear aligner therapy on masticatory musculature and stomatognathic system: a systematic review conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. BMC Oral Health, 24, 350. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04029-8 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10949793
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