Jaw Exercises

How to do Jaw Exercises

Jaw exercises are usually recommended if there is some disorder of the jaw muscles and joints that interfere with natural movement of the jaw. One of the disorders that may cause pain that can be helped with jaw exercise is temporomandibular joint disorder; this condition will cause pain in the jaw, as well as the ears, neck, back and head. In addition, this condition has also been known to cause problems with breathing, and sleeping due to the fact that it is so painful.

Some of the symptoms that you might experience with TMJ disorder include a clicking sound when you move your jaw, or trouble opening the jaw. Although these exercises will help reduce the reoccurrence of pain, they should only be done if jaw pain is not present or very mild.

If you experience tightness or pain in the jaw area you can try putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth while you hold your mouth open wide. Breathe slowly in and out for about for about four seconds; repeat this 10 times.

Another of the jaw exercises that can help with your pain is to make your hand into a fist and gently push up against your jaw to provide resistance as you try to open your mouth. Hold for a few seconds and then repeat about 10 times.

Make a fist and press it against the side of your jaw just below the joint, provide pressure and hold for about ten seconds; again you will want to repeat this ten times. When you have done this ten times, repeat the exercise on the other side of your jaw.

Place one finger on each side of your jaw and then apply pressure evenly to both sides of the jaw. While you are applying pressure to both sides of the jaw you will want to slowly open your mouth. If you hear a clicking in the joint while moving the jaw, you will need to stop and begin the exercise again, repeat until you can open your mouth without hearing the clicking. This is one of the jaw exercises that will help put your joint back in alignment.

This next exercise should be done when your joints are relaxed and you are not in any pain at all. Place your jaw between your thumb and finger and relax while you gently shake the jaw back and forth. While doing this exercise, allow your jaw muscle to become totally relaxed.

You will want to perform this, and other alignment jaw exercises at least once a day. Eventually the exercises will help realign your jaw so that it will naturally open and close in the right position and stop causing your pain.

Many things can cause temporomandibular joint disorder, you may naturally have a problem with this, or possibly you received an injury to your jaw at some point that pushed it out of alignment, but this is a condition that is curable if you do the right jaw exercises.

If the pain and stiffness continues you will want to consult your healthcare provider. Your doctor will examine you and decide if there are further tests needed to determine the exact cause of your pain, or possibly give you additional jaw exercises to help cure the condition.

No one has to live with the pain of TMJ, all it takes is some effort to correct this condition, but if you are persistent you will be pain free in a short period of time.