Clenching one’s teeth while sleeping, often caused by stress, is a primary factor contributing to jaw problems. To alleviate the accumulated tension, it is crucial to find ways to relax.
The jaw’s significance begins at birth, enabling the first breath, first intake of food, and the comforting embrace of a mother’s love. During infancy, as the baby breastfeeds, they must simultaneously suck, breathe through the nose, and swallow, promoting proper joint formation and balanced bone growth.
Throughout life, the jaw undergoes changes. It starts narrow in infancy but gradually widens until reaching its maximum size in adulthood. In old age, tooth loss can cause the jaw to narrow once again.
Being a versatile joint, it serves multiple functions such as opening the mouth, chewing, breathing, and swallowing. Additionally, it plays a role in essential expressions of communication, like speaking, kissing, and expressing love. Remarkably, in the span of a single day, it may perform up to ten thousand movements!
Problems often have a cause that is both physical and emotional.
The condition that encompasses issues related to the joint and surrounding muscles is referred to as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction).
During the initial phase, individuals may experience muscle pain as the primary symptom. As time progresses, there is a possibility of a reducible disc subluxation or dislocation, leading to a clicking sound while opening or closing the mouth. Additionally, there might be a slight deviation during mouth opening, akin to a sprain.
The principal factors contributing to jaw problems include:
1. Breathe through your mouth
Breathing through the nose is beneficial for optimal health. Conversely, mouth breathing, coupled with atypical swallowing patterns (such as placing the tongue between the teeth), can hinder proper dental occlusion.
2. Incorrectly occluding the mandible
When the alignment between the upper jaw and mandible is not harmonious, whether one is larger, narrower, forwards, or backwards in comparison to the other, it can lead to issues in the temporomandibular joint and posture.
A misaligned jaw, deviating to one side, can result in asymmetry of the shoulders on the same side. Additionally, problems may arise from wearing poorly fitted dental prosthetics or having a tooth that prematurely collides with its counterpart.
3. Suffer blows or falls
The skull, sacrum, and mandible are interconnected. Any trauma, such as a fall on the tailbone or a whiplash injury (e.g., from a car accident), can have an impact on the jaw.
To address these issues, seeking help from an osteopath can be beneficial, as they specialize in rebalancing the craniosacral-mandibular axis.
4. Having inappropriate habits
Swallowing with the tongue positioned downward, engaging in nail-biting, as well as biting the lips or cheeks, and having tongue or lip piercings can contribute to the development of jaw joint problems.
5. Suffer bruxism
The unconscious clenching of the masticatory muscles serves as a natural defense mechanism against stress and is considered normal during sleep. However, if this clenching persists over time, it can lead to teeth abrasion, gum recession, and damage to the temporomandibular joint. In some cases, the force exerted is so excessive that it can even result in tooth fractures. Upon waking up, individuals may experience muscle spasms and pain.
The severity of this issue can worsen if there is a malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth when the jaw is closed). Proper awareness and management of this condition are crucial to avoid further complications and ensure overall oral health.
6. Present ligament laxity
Some individuals, particularly those with a phosphoric or fluoric constitution, may have tall and thin physiques with highly flexible ligaments. Homeopathy can be beneficial for such individuals. However, their extreme flexibility can sometimes lead to issues, and even a simple yawn may become problematic for them.
How to relax your jaw
This intricate and sophisticated joint plays a pivotal role in three crucial physiological functions: chewing, aiding in the initial phase of digestion; swallowing, enabling the consumption of already chewed food; and phonation, where its opening and closing movements contribute to the articulation of sounds, thus facilitating verbal and sound communication.
Interestingly, the jawbone also serves as a physical reflection of emotional well-being, given that approximately one-third of the nervous system is connected to this joint.
Emotions such as anger, anxiety, fear, or insecurity can unconsciously manifest through the jaw, potentially leading to various disorders like bruxism, dental mobility, facial muscle and temporomandibular joint pain, otitis, tension vertigo, neck pain, and eyestrain.
To address any of these disorders, it is essential to first identify the physical or emotional cause that underlies them, as they often result from involuntary joint dysfunctions.
Body or energy techniques, such as RPG, rolfing, massages, chiropractic adjustments, as well as specific self-massage and acupressure exercises, can be valuable allies in this process. These techniques promote awareness of the jaw area, facilitate relaxation, and help reduce stress, offering effective ways to support overall jaw health and emotional balance.
4 Self-massage exercises with acupressure to relax the jaw
Masseter Pressure:
To relieve tension in your jaw, place your fingertips on the jaw area and apply constant, firm pressure for approximately three minutes. While maintaining pressure on both sides of your jaw, take deep breaths to help release tension. You can perform this exercise under the shower at the end of the day.
Digital Neck Pressure:
Relieve neck tension by placing your fingertips on the muscles on the side of your neck and exerting pressure along the muscle below the earlobe. Maintain constant pressure for two minutes while breathing regularly. Repeat the same exercise on the other side.
Gallbladder Pressure:
To target the gallbladder meridian, use your fingertips to apply pressure in front of the ear. Maintain pressure for three minutes while making circular movements on the indicated point. Take a deep breath and open your mouth as you release the air to release tension in this area.
Masseter Massage:
For masseter muscle relief, place your hands gently on your cheeks. Apply moderate pressure and make circular movements from in front of the ears to the chin, covering all the muscles on the sides of the face.
Remember, these techniques can be helpful in reducing tension and promoting relaxation, but if you experience any pain or discomfort, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional.
