About Our TMJ Massage Therapy
Your temporomandibular (TMJ) for short is the joint responsible for movement of the lower jaw. Considered one of the most complex joints in the body due to a variety of movements to allow for speaking, chewing, grinding, swallowing and yawning it is also very easy to injure. TMJ dysfunction is often caused by prolong opening of the mouth, during dental work for example, but can also be caused by overuse, like chewing gum, or clenching and grinding your teeth at night.
Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction
Because the joint is so complex the symptom picture can really vary person to person. Pain is usually what causes someone to seek treatment. Sometimes patients not only feel discomfort in the joint itself, but can also experience referred pain along the jaw line, into the teeth, cheeks, around the eye, and even into the ear causing ear aches. Difficulty chewing or swallowing, locking or clicking while opening or closing the mouth as well as neck pain and tension are also very common complaints.
TMJ massage is the treatment of the temporomandibular joint, as well as the surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage to treat temporomadibular dysfunction is most commonly done around the TMJ, face and neck. Sometimes, depending on what is causing the dysfunction, massage may also be done inside the mouth, this is called intra-oral massage.
What to expect during TMJ massage appointments
Your Registered Massage Therapist will do an assessment, first asking questions about symptoms and then examining movement of the TMJ and neck. Based on their assessment, your therapist will then discuss with you the areas to be treated, including determining if intra-oral massage is indicated. After treatment your therapist may reassess the joint and provide you with home care recommendations.
Intra-Oral Massage
Intra-oral massage can be helpful to access some of the deeper muscles of the jaw, muscles inside the teeth, between the upper and lower jaw, as well as under the tongue. This type of massage is only done when it’s been determined that an external massage of the jaw and face is not sufficient to relieve the discomfort the patient is experiencing.
At Bronte Wellness Boutique, Ayesha Jackson and Calais Irwin are the registered massage therapist who have a special interest in TMJ disorders and experience in helping you relieve TMJ pain.