Jaw Range of Motion Exercises

Jaw range of motion exercises are exercises that help your jaw move better. Exercises that help you have good posture (postural exercises) also help relieve jaw discomfort.

These are often done along with range of motion exercises. These exercises can help prevent or improve:

• Difficulty opening your mouth.
• Pain in your jaw while it is open or closed.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.
• Headache caused by jaw tension.

Take other actions to prevent or relieve jaw pain, such as:

• Avoiding things that cause or increase jaw pain. This may include:
  • Chewing gum or eating hard foods.
  • Clenching your jaw or teeth, grinding your teeth, or keeping tension in your jaw muscles.
  • Opening your mouth wide, such as for a big yawn.
  • Leaning on your jaw, such as resting your jaw in your hand while leaning on a desk.
• Putting ice on your jaw.
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 10–15 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

Only do jaw exercises that your health care provider approves of. Only move your jaw as far as it can comfortably go in each direction. Do not move your jaw into positions that cause pain.

Range of motion exercises

Repeat each of these exercises 8 times, 1–2 times a day, or as told by your health care provider.

Exercise A: Forward protrusion

1. Push your jaw forward. Hold this position for 1–2 seconds.
2. Allow your jaw to return to its normal position and rest it there for 1–2 seconds.

Exercise B: Controlled opening

1. Stand or sit in front of a mirror. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your top teeth.
2. Keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth, slowly open and close your mouth.
3. While you open and close your mouth, watch your jaw in the mirror. Try to keep your jaw from moving to one side or the other.

Exercise C: Right and left motion

1. Move your jaw right. Hold this position for 1–2 seconds. Allow your jaw to return to its normal position, and rest it there for 1–2 seconds.
2. Move your jaw left. Hold this position for 1–2 seconds. Allow your jaw to return to its normal position, and rest it there for 1–2 seconds.

Postural exercises

Exercise A: Chin tucks

1. You can do this exercise sitting, standing, or lying down.
2. Move your head straight back, keeping your head level. You can guide the movement by placing your fingers on your chin to push your jaw back in an even motion. You should be able to feel a double chin form at the end of the motion.
3. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10–15 times.

Exercise B: Shoulder blade squeeze

1. Sit or stand.
2. Bend your elbows to about 90 degrees, which is the shape of a capital letter “L.” Keep your upper arms by your body.
3. Squeeze your shoulder blades down and back, as though you were trying to touch your elbows behind you. Do not shrug your shoulders or move your head.
4. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10–15 times.

Exercise C: Chest stretch

1. Stand facing a corner.
2. Put both of your hands and your forearms on the wall, with your arms wide apart.
3. Make sure your arms are at a 90-degree angle to your body. This means that you should hold your arms straight out from your body, level with the floor.
4. Step in toward the corner. Do not lean in.
5. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

Contact a health care provider if you have:

• Jaw pain that is new or gets worse.
• Clicking or popping sounds while doing the exercises.

Get help right away if:

• Your jaw is stuck in one place and you cannot move it.
• You cannot open or close your mouth.