Jaw Clicking/Locking: Guard vs Splint—What to Try First

Your jaw clicks every time you chew.
It locks open mid-yawn.
You get random pain on one side of your face.

Your dentist calls it TMJ disorder. Maybe they offer you a splint.
Your chiropractor blames your posture.
Your TikTok feed swears by mewing.

But you're still stuck wondering:

“Should I use a mouthguard or a splint for my jaw clicking or locking?”

Here’s the no-BS breakdown—what works, what doesn’t, and what you should try first based on biomechanics, not industry bias.

1. Jaw Clicking and Locking: What’s Really Happening?

Clicking or locking isn’t random.

It usually means:

• The jaw joint (TMJ) is out of alignment
  
  
• The articular disc is shifting out of place
  
  
• The bite is collapsing or uneven
  
  
• The mandible is “trapped”—and trying to escape with every movement
  

That “click” is your body crying out for space.

2. The Difference Between a Mouthguard and a Splint

Let’s define both:

✅ Mouthguard (like Reviv)

• Adds vertical height to decompress the joint
  
  
• Soft or semi-firm material
  
  
• Designed to unlock the bite
  
  
• Allows the skull and jaw to reposition
  
  
• Worn mostly at night (can be DIY)
  

⚠️ Dental Splint

• Hard acrylic custom-made device
  
  
• Usually made to lock your jaw in a fixed position
  
  
• Often used to protect teeth or reduce grinding
  
  
• Requires a dental fitting (expensive, $500–$1500+)
  
  
• Often too thin to make structural change
  

3. Why Clicking Happens (and What Fixes It)

Clicking happens when:

• The jaw joint is compressed
  
  
• There’s not enough space in the joint
  
  
• The condyle jumps over the disc → audible “click”
  

To stop this:

• You need to create space (add bite height)
  
  
• And allow the jaw to move freely (not be locked in)
  

That’s where Reviv outperforms most splints.

4. Why Locking Happens (and What Fixes It)

Locking usually means the jaw is:

• Severely compressed
  
  
• The disc is displaced
  
  
• Or the bite has collapsed to the point of dysfunction
  

Reviv’s approach:

• Decompress the joint by adding vertical height
  
  
• Let the jaw re-find its correct position passively
  
  
• Avoid “locking” the occlusion like most splints do
  

This gives the joint space to move back into alignment over time.

 

5. Guard vs Splint: What You Should Try First (and Why)

Start with a guard like Reviv if:

• Your clicking/locking is new or intermittent
  
  
• You don’t want a $1000 dentist bill
  
  
• You want structural correction—not just tooth protection
  
  
• You’re willing to wear it nightly and track symptoms
  
  
• You want to restore movement, not freeze it
  

Try a splint if:

• You’ve already tried guards with no success
  
  
• You need tooth protection (e.g., severe bruxism damage)
  
  
• Your dentist specializes in flat-plane repositioning splints (very rare)
  
  
• You’re under supervision for complex occlusal correction
  

But for 90% of people with jaw clicking or early locking, a decompression guard is safer, cheaper, and more effective as a first step.

👉 Try Reviv for jaw decompression

6. Real Results from Reviv Users with Clicking or Locking

• “Jaw clicking stopped by week 3.”
  
  
• “Couldn’t open my mouth all the way—now it’s smooth.”
  
  
• “Dentist wanted me to do splint + Botox. Reviv fixed it alone.”
  
  
• “Clicking gone, breathing improved, face looks more balanced.”
  

These aren’t flukes. They’re biomechanical consequences of adding space and unlocking the jaw.

7. Reviv vs Dental Splints (Quick Comparison)

 

8. Which Reviv Model Is Best for Jaw Clicking/Locking?

• Reviv One – Best starting point for mild to moderate symptoms
  
  
• Reviv Two – Firmer support, better for long-term clenchers or tighter compression
  
  
• With Support – For those with prior dental work or more complex asymmetry
  

👉 Compare models here

9. What to Expect When You Start

📅 Day 1–3: Slight discomfort, tension shifts, maybe temporary clicking change
📅 Day 4–10: Looser jaw movement, clicking begins to fade
📅 Week 2–4: Locking disappears or reduces drastically
📅 Week 5+: Improved posture, symmetry, and jaw freedom

Track your results with our TMJ Progress Tracker

10. Common Mistakes People Make

❌ Using a soft “boil-and-bite” guard that’s too thin
❌ Wearing it inconsistently
❌ Trying to lock their bite with a splint too early
❌ Ignoring underlying posture or arch collapse
 ❌ Expecting instant results without consistency

FAQs

1. Is it safe to use a guard without seeing a dentist first?
Yes—Reviv is non-invasive, removable, and reversible.

2. Can this fix jaw locking too?
Yes. By decompressing the joint and freeing the disc.

3. Will it make the clicking worse?
Sometimes clicking changes before it stops. This is normal during realignment.

4. What if I’ve had braces or extractions?
Then Reviv is even more important—you’ve likely lost dental height.

5. Can I still use this with my dental splint?
You can test both, but most people switch to Reviv full-time once they feel the difference.

6. Does Reviv help with jaw pain too?
Yes—pain is often linked to the same compression causing clicks and locks.

7. What if I’ve had jaw surgery?
Check with your provider—but many post-surgery patients use Reviv to support recovery.

8. Is it safe to wear long-term?
Yes. BPA-free, flexible, and designed for nightly use.

9. What if it doesn’t work?
You have 30 days to try it risk-free.

10. Can kids or teens use it?
 Yes—with adult supervision. Start with Reviv One.

Suggested SEO Tags

• jaw clicking relief
  
  
• tmj splint vs guard
  
  
• best mouthguard for jaw locking
  
  
• fix jaw popping
  
  
• reviv vs dental splint
  
  
• decompress tmj
  
  
• unlocking bite naturally
  
  
• non-surgical tmj solution
  
  
• jaw popping when chewing
  
  
• tmj guard that works
  

Internal Links

• The Science Behind Mouthguards
  
  
• TMJ Relief Tracking Guide
  
  
• Why Most Guards Fail
  
  
• Buy Reviv Guard

Final CTA

Your jaw isn’t broken.
It’s compressed. Misaligned. Locked.

You don’t need surgery—or even a $1500 splint—right now.
You need space. Decompression. Room to move.

👉 Try Reviv. Let your jaw reset itself.