Why the Jaw Can Slide Side to Side

Opening and closing is only part of what the TMJ can do. It can also slide the lower jaw left or right. This side-to-side move is called lateral excursion.

When you chew, one side of the jaw often slides forward a little while the other side stays back and turns. This grinding motion helps break food into smaller pieces.

The shape of the bones and the soft disc make this possible. The joint is not locked into only up-and-down movement. It has room to shift sideways in a controlled way.

This ability to move in more than one direction is one reason the human jaw is so good at handling many different kinds of food.

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