This problem may also cause the individual to experience jaw pain and headaches during the day.

Stress in the jaw joint can cause popping of the jaw while chewing or yawning. It can also cause the muscles of the jaw to become stressed and to hurt. However, pain in the jaw muscles may not be felt near the jaw joint.

Sometimes stress can cause clenching of the jaw, and this can eventually cause pain in the muscles of the jaw. The jaw has inner and outer muscles. When they are inflamed or aggravated, often the pain will be felt in the upper or lower teeth, instead of around the jaw joint.

Because of this referral of the pain, the patient may present themselves to the dentist complaining of tooth pain. Sometimes the dentist will incorrectly determine that a root canal of the tooth is needed, when infact the tooth is perfectly fine, and the pain was just refering from elsewhere. Some experts tell the story of meeting patients who have been given root canals in every tooth, and yet they still say they suffer from tooth pain. Since the nerves have been removed from a tooth during a root canal, and the tooth is then actually unable to feel pain, this refered pain is a sign that indicates a problem in the jaw joint.

As a result of such jaw muscle stress, some patients report feeling pain in an upper tooth one day, then pain in a lower tooth the next day. Then the following day the pain is back in an upper tooth. This can be caused by alternating aggravation of the outer and inner muscles of the jaw, because the two sets of muscles refer pain differently.

An expert in TMJ (temporo-mandibilar joint) problems might be needed to properly diagnose such a problem. Not all dentists have adequate training in this area.

A dentist can custom fit a rubber mouthpiece to help prevent the tooth to tooth contact and attendant damage to the teeth. There are also over the counter dental guards available.

This disorder is in the group known as other parasomnias.