Scleroderma Information » Scleroderma » mouth tightness
Question:
I am reluctant to describe mouth exercises over the internet because if done wrong some of them can lead to jaw problems, like TMS. I learned mine from a speech therapist, after unsuccessfully asking my rheumy and dentist if they knew of any. They should be done in front of a mirror to make sure you’re keeping your jaws aligned. A couple of pretty safe ones are as follows: Open your mouth as wide as you can, trying to open a little wider each time. Stick your tongue out as far as you can — straight out. Stick your tongue out and try to touch your nose. Then try to touch your chin. [You probably won't get anywhere close but it's the trying that does the job.] Smile as widely as you can. Alternate this with trying to make an "O" with your lips. [This is really hard for me to do, and is the one that is most likely to help with a whistle.] Look in the mirror and try to bring the corners of your mouth in while pushing your lips out, like a chimp does. Be very careful not to twist your jaw. Close your lips tightly. Suck the saliva from in front of your teeth onto your tongue. The point of this one is to make as tight a closure as possible. It can be alternated with the opening of the mouth. I practice this all the time and try to remember to keep my lips closed when I’m walking around. I’m trying to avoid the "beaver" look that we get sometimes. Keeping your mouth tightly shut, pull the corners down, in a frown or pout. Alternate with bringing the corners up into a tight-lipped smile. I do these in the car when I’m driving to work on the freeway. The heck with what the other drivers think!!! Beth
Response:
bubbb…@aol.com wrote: >I used to not be able to drink thru a straw but have been doing mouth >exercises and have regained this skill. I even [almost] can whistle >again. Also, my dentist has stopped complaining about my mouth being >too >small. [Can't get rid of the mouth wrinkles tho.]
Could you tell us more about the exercises you did? I tried doing some mouth stretching, but I got sores in the corners of my mouth. I was very sad when I couldn’t whistle any more. Then about two months after I lost it, the ability to whistle mysteriously came back. I whistled everywhere I went for about a week, then it went away again, for good. Sometimes little things like this bother me more than the big things I’ve lost. Kate Nance
Response:
Bubbbeth wrote: > I used to not be able to drink thru a straw but have been doing mouth > exercises and have regained this skill. I even [almost] can whistle > again. Also, my dentist has stopped complaining about my mouth being too > small. [Can't get rid of the mouth wrinkles tho.]
What sorts of mouth exercises have you been doing? My tightness isn’t that bad, but I would love to be able to whistle again. It sure would make calling my dogs back a lot easier than having to shout for them. I’m sure my neighbors would appreciate it too! 
Let us know. Thanks! Beth
Response:
In article <32F8B55A.4…@erols.com>, Beth Gray <bdg…@erols.com> writes: >What sorts of mouth exercises have you been doing? My tightness isn’t >that bad, but I would love to be able to whistle again. It sure would >make calling my dogs back a lot easier than having to shout for them. >I’m sure my neighbors would appreciate it too!
I have the exact same problem. The only time I really whistle is for the dogs, and now I’m standing at the door just blowing air. I could put a cigarette in it and blow smoke signals, but I’m not sure the dogs are that smart!;-) Amie Y. visit the I HAVE SCLERODERMA website – http://www.epix.net/~knance/
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