Soften Your Jaw

Soften Your Jaw

Our fight or flight stress response includes readiness to bite, if needed. Many of us hold this readiness as tension in the face or throat. In a relaxed position, your teeth should not touch, but the lips should gently rest together. Notice what position your jaw is in frequently through your day.

Muscles of the temple and those attaching the cheekbone to the lower jaw, close the mouth. When we clench or grind the teeth, theses muscles pull hard on the bony plates of the skull and compress the delicate jaw joint. This can create headaches, stuffy ears and a stiff or sore joint. Massage your face, temples and scalp whenever you shower. If you find sore spots, it is likely you are holding tension in your jaw.

Muscles in throat and under the jawline open the mouth and thrust the tongue. Habits of pressing the tongue into the floor or roof of the mouth or back of the teeth can make the throat feel tight, like there is pressure on your Adam’s apple. Teach your tongue to rest lightly on the large ridge of gum behind your top teeth.

Softening your jaw provides feedback to your nervous system that all is well.