Home Exercise Program for the Jaw (TMJ)
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Home Exercises Program for the Jaw (TMJ)
(1) Goldfish exercise (full or partial opening)
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Keep tongue on the roof of mouth
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Place one index finger on TMJ and one on chin
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Allow lower jaw to drop down with help from index finger, keeping the tongue on the roof of mouth.
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Monitor jaw alignment during opening in a mirror, making sure opening is straight.
(2) Mandibular stabilisation exercises
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Start with the jaw in neutral.
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Press gently with your fingers or thumbs on the bottom or sides of your mandible (jaw)
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Resist the gentle pressure to try and keep your jaw still.
(3) Chin tucks
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Sit with shoulders back and your breastbone/chest up
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Bring the chin straight back as if making a ‘double chin’.
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The eyes should stay level (i.e. don’t not the head up and down as the chin tucks)
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Relax and repeat
Reference
¹Nelson, S. J., Nowlin, T. P., & Boeselt, B. (1992). Consideration of linear and angular values of maximum mandibular opening. Compendium (Newtown, Pa.), 13(5), 362-363.
³Dhanrajani, P. J., & Jonaidel, O. (2002). Trismus: aetiology, differential diagnosis and treatment. Dental update, 29(2), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2002.29.2.88
⁴Berge, T. I., & Bøe, O. E. (1994). Predictor evaluation of postoperative morbidity after surgical removal of mandibular third molars. Acta odontologica Scandinavica, 52(3), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.3109/00016359409027591
⁵Cunningham, P. A., & Kendrick, R. W. (1988). Trismus as a result of metoclopramide therapy. Journal of the Irish Dental Association, 34(4), 128–129.