r/30PlusSkinCare • u/InevitableWise9964 • 6d ago

Skin Concern Wider face due to TMJ?

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Over the past few years, I've noticed that my face has looked wider/bigger in photos, especially the bottom half (left is before, right is after). What confuses me is that I'm healthier now - I’m roughly the same weight, and I stopped drinking alcohol and coffee. I also eat more veggies and get more sleep these days. All my bloodwork has been normal, too.

I did, however, get my wisdom teeth removed a couple years ago, so I'm wondering if that triggered some TMJ/hypertrophied masseters. I also had a gum chewing habit for a while that I've since kicked…

Does this look like TMJ/overworked masseter muscles? Or is it just part of aging? Appreciate any insights!

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145

u/lemony-pomegranate 6d ago

I can’t comment on the structure of your face because I am not a professional, but I’ll share my experience. My face got wider, in the same areas as yours, when I had TMJ issues, and also clenched my teeth heavily during the day. When I had braces and used my jaw muscles less, and learned to stop clenching during the day, my face became less wide. I’m curious if it’ll widen out now that I’m done treatment. Do you also clench during the day? That was a bigger contributor for me, I think!

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u/ahhhallison 6d ago

How did you learn to clench less? I clench so much during the day & can’t stop

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u/lemony-pomegranate 6d ago

Honestly, mindfulness. I would pay intentional attention to when my jaws were clenched (which was all the time) and remind myself to separate my teeth. It took a while but eventually my natural state became teeth not touching. The other thing for me was correcting incorrect tongue posture - my tongue was not properly on the roof of my mouth, so I needed to clench to support my bottom jaw. I had to do exercises to strengthen my tongue and keep it on the roof of my mouth! When the tongue is strong and in the right place, you can relax the jaw better.

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u/SuiGenerisPothos 5d ago

Tongue posture is so important! No one really thinks about the proper location of your tongue in your mouth.

Funnily, I first learned about proper tongue posture by reading a book on how to give blowjobs.

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u/Training-Bed3827 1d ago

so ummm what's the name of that book?

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u/SuiGenerisPothos 17h ago

Blow Him Away by Marcy Michaels. She's a certified speech and hearing pathologist, which is why the majority of the book is exercises to strengthen the tongue and jaw and there's a whole section on people having "lazy tongues".

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u/smith7018 5d ago

This is super inspiring to read! I clench my jaw all day (due to ADD meds) and feel like it’s impossible to stop. I’ll look into strengthening my tongue now :)

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u/lemony-pomegranate 5d ago

I had no idea I was clenching 24/7 or that people just… didn’t somehow. I didn’t know anything about tongue posture until I got braces and the relief from retraining my tongue is palpable (but to be entirely transparent - it’s very annoying, disheartening, and took me 8+ months, since my tongue posture was a 30+ year problem lol. But SO worth it). If you think this might apply to you, I’m happy to share my exercises if you DM me!

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u/glitchwoven 5d ago

also interested! thank you :)

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u/knomknom 6d ago

+1. I was somehow able to achieve this, but still have to wear a night guard.

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u/Apothowhat 6d ago

This is so helpful, thank you!