Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Decrease tension in the jaw muscles while providing relief to TMJ dysfunction.

TMJ is an abbreviation that many people use for disorders that affect the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that control your jaw movement. The temporomandibular joint is situated on both sides of your head in front of your ears, where your lower jawbone meets your skull. Overuse, often caused by bruxism, stress, or teeth grinding, can lead to pain and inflammation in this joint. Massage is done to the outside cheeks, inside the mouth and associated muscle surrounding the area.

The major symptoms of TMJ include:

• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
• Popping, clicking, or grating sounds with jaw movement, which may or may not be painful
• Locking of the jaw that makes it difficult to open or close the mouth
• People may also experience symptoms that appear to be totally unrelated to the jaw, but are actually related. These symptoms can include:
• TMJ headaches (over the eye, in the temples, behind the eyes, and at the base of the skull)
• Facial pain and swelling
• TMJ ear pain and other symptoms, including ringing, buzzing, and congestion
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide
• Tired facial muscles
• Trouble chewing or pain while chewing
• Top and bottom teeth not fitting together properly

While you may experience multiple signs or symptoms of TMJ, it’s not uncommon to exhibit a single symptom like earache or headaches.