Jaw cracks all the time, is it serious ?!

You have a temporomandibular joint disorder (aka TMJ or TMD) and the cracking noises are due to dislocation of a structure within the TMJ called the articular disk whenever your teeth come together and then going back into place when you open. As time passes the condition will worsen and cause intermittent locking of your jaw (what you are experiencing now). This happens when the disk becomes dislocated and is unable to pop back into place without some help (like moving your jaw in weird ways). Until the disk pops back into joint, the jaw will feel like it gets "stuck" and your opening is limited to less than 3 fingers wide. In time, intermittent locking will happen more and more and will eventually worsen to locking without reduction (unable to go back into place no matter what you do). This stage is characterized by the absence of any noises because the disk is now unable to pop back into joint, and so no noise is made. Some people think that when the noises go away, the condition is getting better but it is actually the exact opposite. Treatment at this stage is extremely difficult.

This clicking and popping of the disk often causes trigger points to form in the muscles of the mouth and that in turn will refer pain to the head and neck. The most common symptom in females are headaches. Whether this is something that is serious is really up to you to decide. Since TMJ is rarely life threatening many people live their entire lives untreated and put up with the pain and discomfort. The condition is very similar to arthritis in that some people can live reasonably tolerable lives while others are debilitated by it. It affects everyone who has it in different degrees. In time the TMJ may break down and when this happens, surgery is usually indicated. The best time to fix a TMJ disorder is when the jaw is still making noises becasue that means the disk is still going back into place. Big problems start when the noises go away. You need to find a dentist who knows how to treat TMJ (not all do) but avoid oral surgeons and traditional orthodontists, trust me.

functional orthodontist; treated TMJ since 1984

Make an appointment with your dentist and inform him of whats going on. You may or may not have T.M.J. Some dental jargon for your jaw doesn't function properly.

My sister had that, she's fine now... i don't think its bad... just go to your dentist to be sure :)