Mandible, Maxillae, Molars and Movement

Tensions in the face and jaw can be uncomfortable and can lead to TMJ pain and teeth grinding. Such tensions also can be an unrecognized source of stiffness and immobility in the upper neck. I’ve been calling this area “the lid on our spines” because our heads need to be lightly balanced atop our frames, not jammed down onto them like a cap on a soda bottle.

Awareness of your body’s weight is the key to relaxation.

One way I’ve found to release jaw and neck tensions is by focusing on the teeth. I often suggest sensing into the weight of the lower teeth as a way of tuning into the weight of the mandible. (Most people more readily identify with their teeth than with the bone that houses them.) If we can sense into the weight of something we can let it yield to the pull of gravity. That’s what relaxation is: sensing weight anywhere in your body contributes to relaxation of that region.

Soften the spaces between your upper teeth: your upper palate spreads. Your gut tube descends from this wide arch.

 Your mouth needs a spacious roof.

The upper teeth are integrated into the cranium rather than being separate from it like the lower teeth. The upper teeth encircle the maxillae which form the roof of the mouth. This roof helps uphold the bones that form the nose and eyes. So that roof needs to be spacious. My cue for the upper teeth is to tune in to the spaces between them. Doing this helps broaden the maxillae. The resulting support from the roof of the mouth frees up space in the front and middle regions of the cranium.

In my book, Your Body Mandala, pp. 149—152, you’ll find meditations that induce spaciousness in the front of the cranium and relaxation of the lower jaw.

You can move your molars!

Lately through investigation into some recent jaw tension of my own, I’ve discovered another sensory exploration to share. When lying down to sleep I’ve noticed an unwelcome sensation. It feels as though my back molar teeth are creeping forward.  I’m not sure whether this is an unrecognized old habit or something new. This “molar creep” diminishes the space in the back of my oral cavity.

I’ve found that If I ask those back molars to become bigger and heavier, they are actually quite happy to comply. Since I’m lying down, the sensation is that they are resting back toward my earlobes. This makes my cheeks feel fuller, and if I were to smile, the smile would be wider. I even fantasize that there might be a release around my eye sockets, creating a softer place into which my eyes can settle. Once I got the hang of this release I found I could do it just as well with my body upright. Naturally, I have to renew the release throughout the day—just writing this has made my molars small again! 

I hope some of you will experiment with this idea. Check the range of motion in your neck before meditating on your molars—sit comfortably upright and turn your head right and left as you would when driving your car. There’s a good chance this range will be better after you release your jaw. Please let me know about your experiences.

Thanks for reading, and for sharing.

© 2021 Mary Bond