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Jaw exercises can help with jaw joint and muscle pain.  There are 2 main groups of exercises.  Stretching exercises can provide pain relief when you are in discomfort.  Strengthening exercises can lessen the likelihood of pain occurring.

Stretching Exercises

Stretching exercises help when your jaw joints and muscles are already sore.  They are used to reduce tension and provide relief from pain.  Do the exercises by holding each of the following positions for 5 to 10 seconds:

1. Open your mouth as wide as you can while placing the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
2. Move your lower jaw forwards as far as you can while placing the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
3. Move your lower jaw backwards as far as you can while placing the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
4. Open your mouth slowly as wide as you can with the tongue resting as normal. After holding for 5 to 10 seconds, move your lower jaw backwards and forwards 5 to 10 times.
5. Move your lower jaw to the left with the tongue resting as normal.
6. Move your lower jaw to the right with the tongue resting as normal.
7. Place a clean finger between your front teeth and slide your lower jaw forward while still touching the finger gently.

Strengthening Exercises

Strengthening exercises should be done when you are not having any jaw joint and muscle pain.  They make it less likely for you to get pain by making the muscles stronger.  They will cause more pain if they are done when you are already symptomatic.  The exercises make the muscles work against resistance.  Like with any muscle in your body, the training will make the jaw muscles stronger.  Try these 2 exercises:

1. Open your mouth while pushing with your thumb under your chin as resistance.
2. Close your mouth while pushing with your index finger just under the lower lip as resistance.

Remember to come and see us at Central Brisbane Dental if you have persistent or reoccurring jaw joint and muscle pain.  These jaw exercises are only meant for temporary relief.