Massage Therapy for TMJ Dysfunction: A Natural Way to Relieve Jaw Pain

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction refers to pain and restricted movement in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This can be aggravated by chewing, talking and yawning. TMJD can lead to symptoms such as jaw clicking or locking, facial pain, headaches, and difficulty with movements that involve the jaw. While many factors can contribute to TMJ dysfunction, such as stress, teeth grinding, or misalignment, tight, overworked muscles around the jaw are often a key source of discomfort.

Working with a massage therapist can support your improve jaw mobility and reduce pain and headaches. Here’s how massage therapy can help manage TMJ dysfunction:

1. Reduced Muscle Tension:

Muscle tension in the jaw, neck, and shoulders can aggravate TMJ symptoms. Massage therapists can apply targeted techniques to release tight muscles around the temporomandibular joint, including the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles. This can help reduce pain and restore more natural jaw movement.

2. Relief from Referred Pain:

Many people with TMJ dysfunction experience referred pain and/ or headaches in areas such as the jaw, temples, head and even throat teeth. Massage therapy can help address these related areas by releasing trigger points within the muscles, and reducing muscular tension overall, leading to more widespread relief.

3. Increasing ROM

Tight muscles and pain with movement can restrict the ability to move your jaw. This can make it difficult to do activities such as eating, yawning, brushing teeth and talking. By reducing the the tension of the muscles surrounding the jaw, massage can help you return to a healthy range of mobility and decrease pain with movement.

Massage therapy is a safe, non-invasive approach to managing the pain and muscle tension associated with TMJ dysfunction. If you’re dealing with jaw pain or related symptoms, consider booking a massage appointment at Zoomers.