TMJ Exercises

Hi L. - I used to have it bad a while back and there are exercises. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O8ArvMOzqQ - this is a video on youtube with exercises (if the link doesnt work, just go to youtube.com and type in tmj exercises). Google TMJ exercises and a LOT comes up, but I thought this was pretty cool. I didn't get a chance to watch it, but the clip I saw had some of the exercises I did, so it should be helpful.

I have had TMJ my whole life and now have a dislocated jaw from a dental procedure 4 years ago. My jaw was open for so long that the ligaments stretched out and the disc dislocated. I struggled for 2 years w/ different treatments by oral doc's and spent way too much money. The only resolve from the doc was to replace my jaw w/ metal disks.... I then decided conventional docs were not helping me much so I found Windhaven Spine Associates they are amazing! Using a presure therapy they fixed the pain I still have limited motion and pain once in a while. It will take a few treatments but they know what they are doing =). They are on Windhaven & Dallas Pkwy in Plano

Although I am not sure which exercises are best, I know that a Chiropractor can help you greatly with a simple adjustment.

Hi L.,

I used to work for a TMJ specialist. Moist heat to the area is good. Also, try to stay aware of keeping your teeth apart at all times. A good exercise is to put your fore and middle fingers on your jaw joints (right in front of your earlobes) with light pressure. Then slowly open your mouth no more than about three inches open and then close. continue this for as long as you can. Also, advil or motrin is good because its an anti inflammitory. Hope this helps.

R.

My son also suffers with TMJ. We sent him to a chiroprator and he is very much better. I think this will help alot if you seek a good chiropractor. Good Luck!
B.

I used to have TMJ and spent a lot of money going to dentists and trying different therapies that claimed would "fix" my TMJ. Of all those I tried, cranio-sacral therapy helped the most. Then about two years ago I went to a different kind of chiropractor that has helped me more than anyone in the last 35 years! I was living in Hawaii at the time and had to fly to Utah to see him but it was worth every penny. His name is Joshua Christensen and his website is www.advancedhealthclinic.com. If you want more info from me just email me I would be happy to help. I am so glad to be rid of my TMJ and everything else he fixed. He may know of someone closer who does the same kind of work he does. Regular chiropractic can give some relief but I had been going to chiropractors all my life and never found the relief he gave me

I am 27 with TMJ. I'm not sure about any exercises other than massaging the painful spot with hard, slow, short strokes. A warm wash cloth or heating pad also works wonders. You may also need a mouth guard (I have one). These can be found in the pharmacies for a reasonable prices. You can fit the guard yourself or take it to your dentist. Some people even need to have their jaw reset or readjust their bite.

Hope this helps a bit!

Hi L.,

I am a massage therapist and took a moment to watch the utube link that someone sent to you. Those exercises look helpful and actually seeing someone else do them helps a lot. When you are trying to find the medial pterygoid muscle, think of the area that peanut butter tends to get stuck and you'll find the place more easily.

I am familiar with a similar exercise routine that is a little simpler, although hard to describe. You open your mouth slightly, just to a relaxed position. You then move your jaw in each direction (up, down, right, left) while resisting the motion with your hand as shown on the video. It may be easier to do a up/down sequence for a while, then switch to a right/left sequence. I've seen someone do right/down/left/up but it takes more coordination than I have!

There are several other muscles that can be factors causing temporolmandibular joint disfunction, including the lateral pterygoid (located in front of the ear), masseter (chewing muscle) , sternocleidomastoid (resembles a cord that inserts just below the ear and reaches down to attach to two areas, one on the sternum and one on the clavical) and trapezius (shoulders and neck).

Have a blessed day,

B.

I also have had a bad time with TMJ but never heard of exercises that would help. I had to go to an oral surgeon and he fitted me with a night guard to wear continually for the 1st 2 weeks then only at night. I wasn't aware that I was grinding my teeth at night untill it got so bad that my teeth were very worn and the pain so bad I could barely open my mouth enough to slip in one finger. Don't put this off till it is so bad. Go to a good oral surgeon and above all....if you chew gum a lot STOP!

Hi L., Sorry to hear about your TMJ. I have found that TMJ is brought on by clenching of the teeth cuasing the transmandibular joint (TMJ) to move out of proper position. I had a bout with it several years ago when I was going through a stressful time. My father (a dental technician) told me that if I would just learn to keep my freeway space open my problem would go away. He is a very wise man, it did go away. Not overnight but it did go away.
Freeway space is a space between your upper & lower teeth just about wide enough for your tongue to slide into without it being uncomfortable. It is something that you have to train yourself to do (but the treatment is free!!) You can also go to Wal-greens or CVS and buy a mouth piece that you warm up in hot water and fit to your own mouth. It helps for nightime bruxing (grinding). And go to your local health food store and get some valerian & B-6 or rescue remedy for stress relief.
I always have my rescue with me.(I don't leave home without it!!)
I hope this helps some.
God Bless and good luck.
Char

Hi L. -
My dentist told me to open my mouth as far as I can until I see it start to shift. Then close. Keep doing this. He said that it will eventually open wider and wider to where I won't see it shift until my mouth is open wider.

My dentist made a mouth piece. It's worked miracles. I could tell it was helping the first day.

Hope this helps!
S.

The only thing that has helped me is massage therapy and splints (i have a great specialist in Ft. Worth if you need someone). Once I did regular massage therapy for a few weeks the pain pretty much went away. It turned out that my neck/ shoulder tension was creating more tension in my jaw.

I suffered from this also and it is very painful.I found walking was very good.I hope you are wearing a mouth peice.I understand that they carry them now in the pharmacy this is a very important tool.Stay away from gum and cruchy foods and no chewing ice.And if possible try to remain stress free.