- Press your fist softly against one side of the jaw, between the TMJ and the chin. Push slowly toward opposite side, taking up all of the slack. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat on other side.
- Mouth the letters A, E, I, O, U as wide as you can, using the full range of motion in the jaw. Repeat 15 times.
- Relaxing the lips, blow air through them, making a sound like a motor boat. The vibrations will help relax the Masseter muscle, the main muscle responsible for chewing.
- Place the tip of your tongue near the roof of your mouth behind the front teeth in a relaxed manner. Ideally this is where the tongue will go when you make a “la” sound. Imagine the base of your skull (the occiput) lifting ever so slightly to relieve pressure from the suboccipital muscles. Take 5 deep breaths through your nose with your lips gently closed. This is where the tongue should rest at all times.
* Remember that although small, the muscles surrounding the jaw are made up of the same dense fibers as all other muscles. Kneading, or gently stripping them from the top of the joint down into the belly of the cheek will relax them, and help encourage painless range of motion.