How To Relieve TMJ Lockjaw

In this article, we are going to talk about how to relieve TMJ lockjaw. If you are experiencing TMJ lockjaw for the first time and want to find out what leads to this condition, then read our article on the Causes Of TMJ LockJaw.

TMJ lockjaw essentially occurs because the sufferer experiences a spasm and the shortening of the jaw muscles. Different medical sources advocate various ways on how to relieve TMJ lockjaw. However, most dentists agree that the best initial treatment is to soothe the area with moist heat coupled with TMJ exercises to stretch and loosen the jaw muscles. So, how can you tell if you are experiencing a spasm or lockjaw? If your lower jaw is able to slide from left to right, but you are unable to open your mouth, then you suffer from lockjaw.

Prepping For Jaw Exercises

Before you start to stretch and loosen the jaw muscles, it helps to first relax the muscles using moist heat. By doing this, you are encouraging blood to flow to the muscles. Soak a hand towel in a bowl of water that is warm to the touch (not too hot) and place it on the area that feels sore for a minute or two.

Once you start to feel your muscle relax, then it’s time to begin doing some jaw stretching exercises. Keep in mind that these exercises require a fair amount of patience as the best results come from slow and controlled movements.

Everyday Stretching Exercises

As with any other medical condition, TMJ lockjaw affects sufferers in different ways, so a jaw exercise that works for one person may not be effective for another person.

Having said that, there are some basic stretching exercises that everyone can do to start off the healing process. The following is one exercise you can perform whenever you feel your jaw tense up:

Step 1: Open your mouth as wide and comfortably as you can (without feeling additional pain) and then close it slowly.

Step 2: Open your mouth, moving the lower jaw to the left, as wide and comfortably as you can and then close it slowly.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2, except this time, move our lower jaw to the right.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3 until you start to feel the pain slowly go away. It may take as little as 2 minutes, or as long as 5 minutes, so patience is key.

If you this jaw exercise helps relieve your TMJ pain, then you can do other simple stretches together with this exercise to aid the healing process.

TMJ relief can be simple once you find the right set of jaw exercises that work for you. Many people feel really stressed about a lack of knowledge on how to relieve TMJ lockjaw. When this happens, their bodies instinctively tense up and the pain becomes worse. So, above all else, remember to relax