Jaw Exercises for TMJ

Exercise as a whole increases strength and endurance for the body.  It fosters the production of endorphins which are basically the body’s natural painkillers that also promote a natural sense of wellbeing.  It also gets blood flowing to the different parts of the body, getting more oxygen into them and rejuvenating the muscles.  The same goes for exercises that focus on the temporomandibular joint, muscles and jaws.

The easiest exercise you can do for your jaws is to put your tongue on your palate (the roof of the mouth).  Open your mouth wide keeping your tongue in that position and slowly breathe in for two counts and then breathe out for another two counts.  Relax your tongue and put it back to its normal position and repeat the exercise ten times.  This exercise removes the tightness in the jaw that could in turn cause pain and develop into TMJ if not corrected.

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Another easy exercise to strengthen the jaw is to alternately open and close the mouth and move the lower jaw from side to side.  Repeat this exercise for five minutes five times a day.  If you like, you can also do these simple stretches with the aid of your hand.  Do it slowly and not forcefully.  For increased blood flow to the jaw area, place warm moist towels to the sides of your face.  The towels should be soaked in the warm water and wrung of the excess water.  Fold them neatly and place them on the both sides of your face and perform this exercise until the towels become cold.

This other jaw exercise requires that you make a fist and press it against the right side of your jaw just below the ear.  Press your TMJ against your fist and put consistent pressure on the jaw.  Hold this position for about ten seconds and do the left side of the jaw as well.

This exercise has to be repeated eight times on the right and left sides of the jaw to help the jaw muscles relax.  Relaxation of the TMJ is also made possible by performing a jaw exercise that needs the fist to be placed under the chin this time.  Press the chin on the fist as you slowly and gently try to open your jaw.

Make sure that your jaw does not click while doing this exercise.  Hold the position for about ten seconds, release and repeat for up to eight times.  This now relaxes the jaw bone which is also known as the mandible.

Having the proper posture is also beneficial to the temporomandibular joint.  Keep your back straight as you sit on a chair, breathe slowly and deeply.

Do some of the exercises listed above as they don’t require any other body part but the jaw itself and the hands.  Never ever slouch or put the phone between your chin and shoulder.  See a physical therapist so you could learn about the different yoga postures and ergonomic exercises that help improve posture that is likewise beneficial to the TMJ.