Relieving tension in your jaw can significantly reduce stress and discomfort. A simple and effective technique involves a gentle jaw stretch exercise.
Gentle Jaw Stretch Exercise
This exercise helps to relax the muscles surrounding your jaw joint (TMJ). It utilizes controlled resistance to encourage muscle release.
Here's how to perform this stretch, based on the provided method:
- Position your hand: Hold the tip of your chin with your right hand. Place your thumb under the chin and wrap your index finger around the front.
- Apply soft pressure: Softly push your right hand against your jaw. This creates gentle resistance.
- Slowly open your jaw: While maintaining the soft pressure from your hand, slowly start to open your jaw. You will be pushing against the resistance created by your hand.
- Hold the stretch: Hold this open position for a few seconds, feeling the stretch in your jaw muscles.
- Slowly close your mouth: After holding, slowly close your mouth against the gentle pressure from your hand.
Repeat this exercise a few times as needed throughout the day when you feel tension building in your jaw. Remember to perform the movement slowly and gently, avoiding any forceful actions that could cause pain.
Implementing techniques like this stretch can help manage stress and improve jaw comfort.
