Jaw Pain Try This At Home Stretch
Have you noticed jaw tightness or TMJ pain?
Have your noticed pain or tightness in your jaw or TMJ? Or when you open your mouth does your jaw deviate to one side like this? Well, today I’m going to show you a simple at-home exercise that you can use to help correct this. I’m Dr. Kara Penson and I’m a chiropractor at HealthWorks: A Family Wellness Center in Plano, Texas.
Use this simple TMJ stretch to realign your TMJ and relieve jaw pain at home.
When your jaw deviates to one side or you are feeling a tightness in that muscle there are some resistance exercises we can do to help work those muscles out to make it easier for your jaw to work. What you’re going to do is look in a mirror and slowly open your mouth. You’re going to notice which side your jaw deviates to. Now mine deviates to the left. For my exercise, I’m going to put my hand on the left side of my jaw and my other hand on the right side, on the top of my head. I’m going to open my mouth to the point of deviation and then I’m going to apply pressure, trying to push my jaw back to midline but I want to resist it with my jaw, just like this. You just want to resist gently. It should feel like a good stretch but not painful.
We like to do this exercise for three sets of 10 reps, holding about five seconds per rep or until you feel pain. If you like this video and think it can work for you leave a comment down below or feel free to share it with someone you may think it might help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is TMJ pain worse on one side?
Unilateral TMJ pain typically results from favoring one side while chewing, teeth grinding, jaw misalignment, or sleeping position. This creates muscle imbalances and joint inflammation affecting primarily the overworked side.
Our upper cervical adjustments can correct the spinal alignment affecting jaw position and TMJ function.
What stretches help one-sided jaw pain?
Gently open your mouth and shift your jaw toward the painful side, holding for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Also try resisted opening: place your fist under your chin and gently push up while opening slowly.
HealthWorks’ gentle approach addresses cervical spine issues that often contribute to TMJ dysfunction in Plano patients.
Can neck problems cause TMJ pain?
Absolutely – the upper cervical spine directly connects to jaw muscles and nerves. C1 and C2 misalignment often causes or worsens TMJ symptoms through altered nerve signals and muscle tension patterns.
Our specialized Orthospinology technique precisely corrects upper cervical issues underlying many TMJ problems.