No Sound on white macbook

This has been a major problem lately. i can't hear anything unless i plug earphone in. The digital audio out wont shut off. There's a red light inside the headphone jack. The speakers work when the computer is booting up.I am running 10.6.8.Ive tried the toothpick method and the plugging headphone jack in and out really fast method. Those methods used to work but now they don't. Is there any way to disable the digital out through the OS?