The mouth is surrounded by bones that hold our teeth in place. If these bones shift, your teeth may shift with them, which cause our bite to strain. This straining creates tension in our face muscles which leads us to involuntarily grind or clench our jaws. Grinding is when tension forces your jaw to move in a horizontal or circular motion. Clenching is when tension forces the jaw to apply vertical pressure. If grinding or clenching persists, you may develop a continuous spasm, or “Charlie Horse”, in your face muscles.

Dentists can measure your bite to see if it is off balance. They use a very thin micron paper which records bite measurements. From this quick test, they’ll be able to diagnose you.

There are some simple jaw stretch exercises that can help to relieve face muscle stress. First, you’ll need to ice your face for 5-10 minutes on each side. Once cooled, there are four exercises to ease your muscles.

1. Place your thumb under your chin and slowly open your mouth. Apply resistance by pushing up against your chin. Repeat 10 times.
2. Place your index and thumb fingers on your chin and squeeze together. As you apply pressure gently close your mouth. Repeat 10 times.
3. Place a small object (1⁄4 inch) in between your front teeth and move your jaw from side to side. Repeat for 2-3 minutes.
4. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and slowly open and close your mouth. Repeat 10 times.

We’re all susceptible to bite problems. If we engage in preventative ice and stretching exercises, we have a good chance of keeping our face muscles stress-free.