0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw Exercises

2023.02.23 – 0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw Exercises

The Jaw

If you experience a popping or clicking in their jaw, it’s a possible sign that you are tensing or clenching it too much. But of course, you need to be able to drop the jaw when you speak, to allow the tongue to move freely and the sound to come out. Some of the muscles that close the jaw fan out towards the temple and skull, the ones that open it are linked to the neck and larynx, so any tightness here can affect a large area.

·        Relax your jaw and keep your lips closed. Let it hang loose for one minute.

·        Then do each of these for a count of five:

o  With your lips still closed, stretch your jaw as far open as you can

o  Carefully move your lower jaw from left to right…

o  … and then up and down.

Now, open and relax your mouth with your lips apart, a ‘gormless’ look, and repeat the exercise.

·        Chew big, slow and exaggerated, letting your mouth open as you do so, for 30 seconds[1]

·        Then quick and small, chipmunk-style

[1] Some people chew actual gum for a few minutes before a studio session to relax their jaw, although doing it for too long will make it ache. 

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