Are you suffering from persistent or worsening jaw and facial pain? Do you have frequent headaches that interfere with your day-to-day life? Does tinnitus (ringing in the ears) make it impossible to concentrate at work or school? Has jaw stiffness made it difficult to eat comfortably? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be among those individuals who could benefit from TMJ treatment. 

In your search for a dentist near me in St. George, Utah, it’s important to select a dental practice with myofunctional therapy expertise. As a biological dentistry provider, Gateway Oral Health Center is pleased to offer non-invasive myofunctional treatment of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders. 

Here are four examples of myofunctional therapy in action:

1 – Jaw exercises 

To increase the range of motion, you may practice closing and opening your mouth in a controlled fashion. You should put your fingers on your jaw (in front of your ears) and as you close your mouth, let your lower jaw fall into your hands. You can also do a similar exercise by moving your lower jaw back and forth. This helps to increase side-to-side movement. To ease tension, massage the muscles in the upper jaw (under your cheekbones). Massaging the temporalis muscles on the sides of the head (above your ears) can also help with TMJ-related headaches. 

2 – Tongue exercises

TMJDs are also associated with imbalances in how the teeth and other parts of the mouth are positioned. With these exercises, we promote better tongue posture. We also help to improve muscle coordination and can “retrain” the muscles. So, you can perform movements without pain. For instance, tongue stretches involve sticking out your tongue and pushing it toward the floor of your mouth. Hold this position with your teeth for five seconds and then release. Tongue presses are similar, but involve holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth for five seconds. You may also slowly glide or sweep your tongue over the roof of your mouth, working from back to front. 

3 – Lip exercises

Position your lips as if you are going to whistle. Hold that pucker position for five seconds. To improve the function of the muscles around the mouth, you may also smile widely and hold that position, too, before relaxing your lips again. 

4 – Breathing exercises

Muscle tension is often at the root of TMJ symptoms. For this reason, TMJD therapy frequently involves stress management, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques. Exercises that promote healthy posture and breathing are also a component of myofunctional techniques. By getting into a habit of regularly checking and adjusting your posture, you can correct if your shoulders are too far forward or your head is out of alignment with your spine. Intentionally focusing on breathing into the stomach and not your chest also promotes greater mindfulness and overall relaxation.

Exercises of any kind are never one-and-done. They should be repeated, and you should practice them consistently to get maximum benefit and relief. 

As a biological dentistry provider, Gateway Oral Health Center offers many unique materials, services, and products. This unique expertise includes myofunctional therapy. To find out more about how to non-invasively improve TMJD symptoms without drugs, call our team in St. George, UT, today at (435) 656-0255.

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