LPT - Before a dentist appointment, stretch your jaw wide open to make it a much more comfortable experience.

Submitted by Razoire t3_zgvh6c in LifeProTips

Like any muscles, those in your jaw wont feel good being stretched to their limit if you haven't stretched them before. Typically you don't stretch your jaw that wide in the course of a normal day, so it helps a lot to stretch your jaw before the appointment. If you don't want to look silly doing this in the waiting room, then best to remember to do it in the car before going in.

This is even more helpful for early morning appointments, as your jaw wont have been exercised much at all since waking!

Further bonus tip, if you have a split lip, make sure you moisten this before the appointment. You don't want to go in there with a dry split, when you open your mouth wide it can rip the split which is particularly unpleasant. This can be done easily by applying saliva repeatedly to the split until it softens.

As someone who has needed a lot of dental work done, I am very much speaking from experience.

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keepthetips t1_izipexh wrote

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Important-Aside-507 t1_izipobd wrote

I mean, muscles take time to build up. Doing it for a few seconds the day you go in won’t do anything. If you want to make an impact make it a habit to do it every time you brush your teeth or something, and stretch it daily, otherwise it’s nothing.

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Coubsauce t1_iziqmk8 wrote

Whose dentist needs their mouth wide open?

Mine just wants some space to work with and doesn't want me to bite him.

Also, use some Vaseline or some lip balm for that split. Saliva is just gonna dry it out.

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Mr-Doodlezz t1_izitvot wrote

Replying to Important-Aside-507 (#892,457)

I don't think this tip is for muscle building/stretching but for loosening and quick-prepping the tendons and muscles you already have for an appointment that takes one to two hours, thrice or four times a year.

Making stretching a daily habit for a possible dental appointment is probably a bit of an exaggeration.

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isaikya t1_iziz4g5 wrote

And bring your sunglasses! That light is intense and the silly little sunglasses they might give you don’t do much.

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CuppaTeaThreesome t1_izj2n7x wrote

Also your proctologist appreciates the same type of courtesy. The logistics for a stretch is very much down to yourself.

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