The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that lets your child's jaw open, close and slide.

In kid words

"Right in front of your ear is a hinge called your TMJ, and it's what lets your mouth open and close." Have your child try opening and closing slowly while feeling that spot, right where the jaw meets the skull. It works every single time they chew, talk, laugh or yawn.

The parent version

The temporomandibular joint, often shortened to TMJ, is the joint just in front of each ear that connects the lower jaw to the skull. There are two, one on each side of the face, and together they let the jaw open, close and glide side to side every time a child chews, talks or yawns.

In growing children, an occasional click, pop or bit of soreness near this joint is fairly common, and mainstream sources generally describe it as mild and often temporary on its own. It is not something to sort out from a description at home. If your child ever mentions a sound or soreness near the ear when they open wide, mention it at a checkup and ask your pediatric dentist to take a look.

Where you might hear it at our office

Your child's bite and the way their jaw is growing get checked at every routine cleaning and exam, right alongside their teeth and gums. If a click or a sore spot near the ear has come up at home, that visit is the natural time to mention it out loud.

Most of the time a quick look and a few questions are all it takes to set a parent's mind at ease. If another word from a visit needs translating, more of the Kids' Dental Dictionary is waiting.

Related words

A few words you might hear alongside TMJ: bite, mandible and maxilla.