according to some specialists the only 3 times your teeth should touch is when talking, chewing and swallowing. The rest of the time you have your tongue on the roof of your mouth and your jaw droped a little. I have found that this works for me. If it feels awkward dont do it. If it hurts dont do it.

Sorry to take so long to reply to your questions about swallowing Cali_guy. Swallowing is a big problem with TMJ. It involves not only the mouth position, but your neck and head posture. I know I must sound like a broken record, but proper posture is essential. Holding the mouth - I have been taught to hold my lips together (or slightly apart relaxed), teeth apart (and never to be touched except possibly eating, and even then??), and tongue resting on the roof of mouth. It took me years to get here and I know it was also correcting my upper posture that finally helped me "get" it.

When swallowing, the neck should be "tall" and the chin down. The tongue stays on the roof of the mouth for the most part. When I have a particular problem swallowing (pretty normal for me), I change the position of my chin and might even use my tongue to push against my bottom teeth, but I never bring my teeth together. If I ever start feeling like my teeth want to come together, I know that I am in for a TMJ "flare-up." Muscle spasms start and then clenching. I have to force myself to keep my mouth relaxed after that.

I hope this helps. God bless...
Carol