Does your jaw pain keep you up all night, or do you wake up feeling like your mouth is stiff and it hurts? If you do, then you may be suffering from TMJ disorder. Around 10-35 million people are affected by TMJ disorder in the US every year. There are treatments available to cure the TMJ disorder. But Can you fix TMJ with Jaw Exercises? Let us find out.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder, also known as TMD, is a condition that affect the joints and muscles that control jaw movement. The TMJ are located on both sides of the head that connect the lower jaw to the skull. These joints allow for movements such as chewing, speaking, and yawning.
You are able to move your jaw because of TMJ. The joints, ligaments, and muscles control both sides of your jaw. When all these are not in their correct position, your jaw feels stiff and it hurt. There may be several causes of TMJ disorder, but you should never ignore the pain. Here are some common causes of TMJ disorder.
 According to the TMJ Association, TMJ may be caused by factors including genetic, hormonal, and environmental ones. According to the research, genetic factors lead to TMJ and help in the development of TMJ treatment.
The following are the symptoms of TMJ:
So, Can you fix TMJ with Jaw exercises? People suffering from TMJ symptoms, have benefitted from strengthening and stretching their jaw. Therefore, Jaw exercise have proved to be beneficial for TMJ disorder.
Here are 8 simple jaw exercises to fix TMJÂ at home.
In this exercise, you have to apply some pressure on your chin when you open your mouth. To do the exercise, place your thumb below the chin, and try to open your mouth as slowly as possible. Then, gently push your thumb against the chin to feel some pressure and hold it for 3–6 seconds.
In this exercise, you put pressure on your chin when you try to close your mouth. To do the exercise, place your thumb below the chin and index finger in front of the chin. Try to squeeze the chin with both fingers and press down on the chin while you close your mouth.
This strengthens the muscle because of the side to side movement of the jaw. To do the exercise, you need a popsicle stick or any wood craft object which is one-quarter of an inch thick. Once you have it, bite down the stick with your front teeth. Then, move your jaw from one side to another. You can place more objects between your teeth as you get comfortable.
This exercise is similar to the side to side movement of the jaw. To do this exercise, you need a stick that is one-quarter of an inch thick. Bite down on the stick using your front teeth. Slowly make a back-and-forth movement of the jaw until the bottom teeth overlap your upper teeth.
You can place more objects between the teeth to do the exercise.
This exercise strengthen the jaw muscles. To do the exercise, tough the roof of your mouth with your tongue when you sit or stand. Stretch your jaw as much as you can and do not drop your tongue. Try to do this exercise more than once.
For the jaw relaxation exercise, keep your tongue flat on top of your mouth, just behind your front teeth. Then, drop your jaw slightly and keep your mouth open. Hold in this position for a few seconds to relax your jaws.
This exercise strengthens cervical muscles and improves head and spine alignment. To do it, stand up straight and put the chin under the neck. Keep your shoulders back and lift your chest up. Repeat it at least ten times a day.
This exercise aligns your jawbone when you chew. To do this, place the tip of your tongue against the top of your mouth. Then, put your index finger in the left TMJ and right finger on the chin. Put some pressure on both fingers and drop the chin while still placing the tongue on the roof of your mouth. Do the same exercise for the right TMJ.
Still wondering, "Can You Fix TMJ With Jaw Exercise?" Jaw exercises can manage TMJ disorder by strengthening jaw muscles, improving flexibility, and reducing pain. However, this exercise must be done with great caution and under the proper guidance of a health professional. Combining jaw exercise with medication, stress management, and lifestyle changes can provide relief from TMJ symptoms.
If you're experiencing TMJ symptoms and want to explore if jaw exercises can help, Quality Sleep Solutions in Summerville, SC, is here to assist you. Our experts can provide personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs. Book an appointment online or call us at (843) 380-8945 to start your journey toward relief and improved jaw health.
There is no exact duration for TMJ disorder to last. However, most painful TMJ lasts from several hours to years. It differs from person to person, what caused it, and how badly your jaw joint is damaged.
TMJ disorder can cause tooth pain as it is close to muscles, ligaments, and nerves. If you are suffering from TMJ pain, it can spread to other parts of the body including mouth, face, ears, neck, and head.
Although jaw exercises help in removing TMJ symptoms, they provide much better results when combined with proper medication, lifestyle changes, and stress management.
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