TRAINING TO OBTAIN CORRECT JAW FUNCTION
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INTRODUCTION
These exercises are designed to encourage the spasmed muscles to work correctly, this allowing the jaw to resume its correct position and for the jaw-joints to function properly.
Muscles should not be forced- to do so will only increase problems. A good idea is to warm the muscles and joints for several minutes with a hot water bottle wrapped to ensure there is no burning.
Exercise 1
This exercise should initially be learnt sitting in an erect posture in front of a mirror, it should be done at least twice daily in this position until the art of contracting the muscle beneath the chin has been completely mastered. Two sessions of 30 minutes is the usual amount of time required to learn.
Exercise 2
These exercises are designed to encourage the spasmed muscles to work correctly, this allowing the jaw to resume its correct position and for the jaw-joints to function properly.
Muscles should not be forced- to do so will only increase problems. A good idea is to warm the muscles and joints for several minutes with a hot water bottle wrapped to ensure there is no burning.
Exercise 1
This exercise should initially be learnt sitting in an erect posture in front of a mirror, it should be done at least twice daily in this position until the art of contracting the muscle beneath the chin has been completely mastered. Two sessions of 30 minutes is the usual amount of time required to learn.
- Place one hand behind your neck or head to provide a headrest and the other over the chin
- Keeping the mouth closed and teeth lightly touching throughout, contract the muscles which run from the point of the chin to the Adam’s Apple by attempting to pull the chin back into the neck
- It is essential not to move the jaw or teeth when doing this exercise. By observing the chin and neck in the mirror it is possible to see the actual contraction of these suprahyoid muscles
- If this is difficult, a useful trick is to stand with back, shoulders and head against a wall and then try and pull the lower jaw horizontally back into the wall
Exercise 2
- Lips together and place the tip of the tongue on the middle of the soft palate or as far back in the centre top of the mouth as possible
- Close teeth together in this position and the jaw joint will be correctly centred
| Jaw joint exercises leaflet (PDF) |
