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Exercises for TMJ

Temporomandibular joint disorder, more commonly known as TMJ, can sometime be too pathetic. This is a condition that affects the joint that opens and closes the mouth. The most common symptoms of TMJ are pain or loss of movement in the jaw, earache, headache, popping noises when opening and closing your mouth, facial pain and dizziness, among others. This problem of the jaw can be overcome with some light exercises of the jaws. Exercising your jaw increases blood flow and oxygen to the joint and muscles, helping to rejuvenate them.

Exercises For TMJ

Apply Resistance

First put your thumb underneath the center of your chin and then open your mouth slowly by lowering your jaw, while applying steady light pressure to the bottom of your chin with your thumb. Now hold your mouth in the open position for 3 to 6 seconds, then close your mouth slowly and repeat the exercise for 3-6 times for better result.

Apply Opposite Resistance

Initially put your thumbs underneath your jaw and your index fingers on the joint of the jaw. Now, push lightly with both your thumbs and your index fingers as you close your mouth. Repeat this exercise 3 to 6 times.

Hold Tongue

While opening and closing your jaw, hold your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Repeat the exercise for several times for effective result.

Side-to-Side Movement of Jaw

Open your mouth and place an object that is less than 1/2-inch thick, such as a pencil or a popsicle stick, between your teeth. Now, your jaw slowly to one side, then the other. Repeat this exercise several times, then choose a thicker object to place between your teeth when the exercise is no longer challenging.

Forward Motion of Jaw

Open your mouth and place an object that is less than 1/2-inch thick, such as a pencil or a popsicle stick, between your teeth. Now, slowly move your bottom jaw forward until your upper teeth are behind your lower teeth. Repeat this exercise several times, again replacing the object with something thicker when the exercise seems too easy.


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