How to Treat Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) with Jaw Exercises

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TMJ exercises for pain relief and management

Medically reviewed by Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Approved

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Strengthening Your Jaw

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Relaxing Your Jaw

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Increasing Jaw Mobility

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Jaw Exercises and Posture Tips for TMD

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is characterized by pain, tenderness, and compromised movement of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and muscles of mastication that open and close the mouth. These joints, located in front of the ears, attach the lower jaw to the skull and control mouth movement. Treatment usually starts by managing pain by addressing and managing sources of stress and tension because TMJ dysfunction is largely a psychophysiological condition. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, dietary guidelines, analgesics, cold packs and local physiotherapy such as jaw exercises. By performing jaw exercises that improve mobility and that strengthen and relax the jaw, you can increase blood flow and oxygen to the joints, easing TMD symptoms such as jaw clicking. While TMD cannot be cured, these exercises will help you manage your TMD effectively so you can live your daily life.^{[1]
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Things You Should Know

Press 2 fingers gently under your chin and open and close your mouth to strengthen your jaw.
Keep your teeth slightly apart when your mouth is at rest to relax your jaw.
Put a chopstick between your teeth and move your teeth forward, back, and side to side to increase jaw mobility.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Strengthening Your Jaw

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1
Apply resistance while opening your mouth. Strengthening your jaw will help alleviate TMD symptoms. Place two fingers under your chin and press gently, applying a little resistance, while opening your mouth. Perform this exercise six times per session, six sessions per day.^{[2]
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- Never persevere through any exercise that is painful or uncomfortable, especially when applying resistance. If your pain is acute, seek advice from your dentist or doctor.
Open your mouth, and place two fingers under your bottom lip. Press gently, applying a little downward resistance, while closing your mouth. This will help strengthen your jaw muscles to ease your TMD. Perform this exercise six times per session, six sessions per day.

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With good posture, pull your chin straight back towards your chest, as if trying to make a double chin. Hold this chin tucked position for three seconds. This helps build the muscles surrounding your TMJ, taking some pressure off the joint. Repeat this exercise 10 times per day.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Relaxing Your Jaw

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This will relieve the pressure on your jaw. Put your tongue between your teeth to control clenching or grinding during the day. As you go off to sleep try to consciously relax your jaw and don't clench your teeth shut. Ask your dentist about wearing a mouth guard as well.^{[3]
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Hold your tongue on the roof of your mouth as you slowly open and close your jaw. Relaxing the jaw will release tension and is a necessary part of any routine that also involves strength training. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth. Drop your jaw, allowing the muscles to relax. No need to hold this open position, simply repeat this exercise six times per session, six sessions a day.
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Try “goldfish exercises.” While goldfish aren’t stretching their jaws when they mouth, so-called goldfish exercises can release tightness in your TMJ. Place two fingers on your TMJ joint (you can localize it by where you feel the most discomfort at the hinge of your jaw near your ear.) Then, place one finger from your other hand on your chin. Drop your mouth open, while applying light pressure against the TMJ. Repeat this exercise six times per session, six sessions per day.^{[4]
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- Don’t apply resistance to your chin when you open your mouth. This exercise is to relax the jaw, not strengthen.
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} You can also use chin tucks to relax your jaw. With your shoulders back and chest up, pull your chin back creating a “double chin” and hold for three seconds. Then, release and repeat 10 times.^{[6]
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Stress can cause you to clench your jaw, which can in turn aggravate TMD. Practice breathing in slowly through your nose for five seconds, while releasing the tension in your jaw completely. When you breathe out, also for five seconds, try to relax your jaw even further, really concentrating on slackening each muscle you use to chew. You can perform this exercise as often as you like.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Increasing Jaw Mobility

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Place an item between your teeth to exercise your jaw with a forward motion. Place an item of 1/4-1/2 inch or 1/2-1 1/3 cm thickness, such as a tongue depressor or a chopstick, between your top and bottom teeth. Orient the object such that the length of it is sticking out in front of you, rather than out of the sides of your mouth. Now, shift your bottom jaw forward to try to point the object towards the ceiling. When you master one object comfortably, gradually increase the thickness to give you greater range of motion.^{[8]
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- Try to select an object that is made to go in the mouth, such as those indicated above. Other household objects may accidentally chip your teeth during the exercise, if you are not careful.
- Perform this exercise as needed when you feel you need more mobility in your jaw, such as before a meal.
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Place an item between your teeth to exercise your jaw side to side. Place your 1/4-1/2 inch or 1/2-1 1/3 cm item between your top and bottom teeth again, but this time, place it horizontally. Move your bottom teeth from side to side rather than up and down. This will help increase your lateral jaw mobility.^{[9]
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- Perform this exercise as needed in response to pain or when you feel you need more jaw mobility.
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Expert Source

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Interview. 30 September 2020.} Many people carry their heads slightly forward when they walk. This brings the spine out of alignment, aggravating TMD. Stand against a wall and tuck your chin, bringing your jaw to your chest, while pressing your shoulder blades together behind your back. This stretches the spine into a more neutral position that can alleviate TMD symptoms and increase jaw mobility.^{[11]
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Jaw Exercises and Posture Tips for TMD

Jaw Exercises for TMD

Posture Tips for TMD

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Question

How do you get rid of jaw pain?

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Answer

To reduce the pain and discomfort associated with TMD, eat soft foods and do not chew gum or bite your fingernails.

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What makes TMD worse?

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Answer

Excess stress can also be a contributing factor for TMD. Get plenty of exercise and practice meditation, yoga or other relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Additionally, clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth may cause or worsen symptoms of TMD. See your dentist to get fitted for a mouth guard if you suffer from jaw clenching or teeth grinding.

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Do jaw exercises help TMJ?

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Answer

Other than home remedies and oral medicine, there are a few simple jaw-stretches that can help get you relief from the pain in a few days. These exercises include side-to-side jaw movement, chin tucks, and forward jaw movement.

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Tips

Keep your tongue resting on the roof of your mouth with your teeth slightly apart. This helps you to relax a clenched jaw.

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Moist heat, such as a warm, damp washcloth applied to your jaw, is helpful for TMJ pain.

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Set your phone alarm to go off every hour to remind you to unclench and relax your jaw.

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Meditation is a great way to relax all the muscles in your body. Tense upper back and neck muscles can cause TMD to worsen as well.
Repeating this mantra throughout the day works for me: "Lips together, teeth apart!"

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