I have suffered from jaw pain for a number of years.  I clench my teeth when I’m sleeping or stressed, and wake up in the morning with my face feeling very tense and sore.  Many healthcare practitioners refer to this as TMJ, or temperomandibular joint symptoms.  My TMJ symptoms often progressed to headaches, difficulty chewing, and even muscle spasms along my cheeks.  I’ve found that massage has helped me tremendously with relieving the muscular tension caused from this clenching and now I love helping my clients who also experience similar issues.  I’ve been incorporating face massage both externally and intraorally (inside the mouth) for many years to help others who also experience this tension and pain, and have had significant positive feedback. Recently I took a more detailed and advanced course dealing with the TMJ and have been excited to bring these updated techniques into the massage studio.

These sessions usually involve treatment to the upper back, neck, and shoulders, followed by external massage of the face and scalp.  After these muscles have been relaxed and the client is comfortable the intraoral work can begin.  Gloves are worn and the treatment is always within the client’s comfort, with very slow and precise techniques to reduce any discomfort. After the intraoral work is done Acupuncture can also be added, with some very small needles added along the jaw.  This greatly enhances the treatment and I highly recommend it. To finish the treatment more massage is done to the neck, face, and scalp to further relax the muscles associated with chewing, clenching, and upper body postural strains.

Although at first many people find this sort of treatment a little strange, my clients have told me they experience considerable relief and even find it to be quite relaxing.