Put a moist heating pad on your jaw immediately.If this is your case, then you can try the following techniques to help your jaw to unlock. Generally, most jaws lock due to muscle constrictions caused by trauma or stress. He/she may be able to give you advice on what to do if it happens again. We do recommend that you go to the ER to have a physician look at the specific cause for your locked jaw. Which makes perfect sense.Īfter all – it’s very frightening to find that you cannot close (or open) your mouth and if it’s locked in an open position, it can be very painful. What Do You Do If Your Jaw Locks?įor most people, the very first time their jaw locks they run to the emergency room. There may also be soreness after treatment similar to having worked the muscle during exercise. Normally, the insertion of the needle is generally not felt, but there may be a slight cramping sensation experienced when a muscle is stimulated. We use the same type of needles that are used in Acupuncture but the placement of the needles is different. The purpose of this is to release muscle tension and pain. In our clinic at ABove Physical Therapy, we have been using dry needling to help our patients who suffer from jaw pain and other TMJ related symptoms with successful results.ĭry Needling is a therapy technique performed by a licensed practitioner utilizing one or many thin filament needles inserted into the muscle or soft tissue, such as tendons and ligaments. To use the stretching massage, the physical therapist presses down on the muscles associated with the temperomandibular joint and slowly stretches them outward.ĭepending on your specific TMJ issues – a physical therapist would use any combination of these treatment techniques to help relieve your jaw pain. The physical therapist applies a constant, steady pressure on the mandible muscle (the lower portion of the jaw along the jaw line). Trigger point massage works very similar to accupressure. Trigger Point Massage To Relieve Jaw Pain In this type of massage, the physical therapist uses their fingers to create a consistent circular type of motion against the temperomandibular joints and the surrounding muscles. The 3 types of massage most commonly provided are: The main course of treatment that physical therapists provide for anyone who suffers from TMJ problems are specific massage techniques. Here, at ABove Physical Therapy – we have those therapists! TMJ Massage To Relieve Jaw Pain There are physical therapists who are trained specifically to treat jaw, facial and cranial problems stemming from TMJ. Well, there can be relief and it doesn’t involve surgery or drugs! You may be at the stage where you purposely curb your yawns so that your mouth doesn’t open too much (if at all) just so you can avoid a locked open mouth! Stress and/or physical trauma can cause these muscles to become weak. If you are asking yourself, “Why does my jaw lock when I yawn?” – Basically, if the muscles around the temporomandibular joints are weak or if one side is stronger than the other side then it’s very easy for the joint(s) to pop out of their sockets. The culprit is more than likely TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) and it affects about 10 million Americans. If you have experienced jaw pain and tightness after yawning, know that you are not alone.
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