What is TMJ?
Has your mouth ever hurt while you were eating or speaking? Does your opening mouth sound like a click?
In such cases, you might have TMJ disease!
The joint tying your mouth to your skull is called the TMJ. This joint is crucial when you chew, talk, and move your mouth.
Your TMJ might not be working, and you might be suffering from swelling, tightness, and pain. You might also face difficulties moving your mouth. Anxiety, teeth grinding, poor posture, or even an accident can all cause TMJ issues.
You might have to consult a doctor in severe cases, but TMJ massage is a simple and natural approach to relax your jaw muscles and reduce pain. It is more like a therapeutic massage that helps with TMJ disease.
Many claim that TMJ massage therapy provides better relief from jaw tension than medication. Learning how to jaw massage for TMJ will help with light to moderate pain.
How TMJ Massage Helps
By relaxing the muscles surrounding your mouth, increasing blood flow, and reducing stress, TMJ relief massages work in a system. Rubbing the area generates more blood flow. This releases the tension from the muscles and facilitates tongue movement.
Regular TMJ release massage can lead to the following:
- Less jaw pain and stiffness
- Better ability to seal and open the mouth
- Reduction in jaw tension-related headaches
- Solace from jaw clicking or popping sounds
Many times, people with TMJ symptoms unwittingly clench their teeth. This increases the pain by contraction of the jaw muscles. Buccal massage for TMJ can help stop this cycle by loosening the muscles and lowering the stress on the joint.
Best TMJ Massage Techniques
Different kinds of TMJ massage work on different mouth muscles. Here are three methods that work well for everyone:
1. Jaw Massage for TMJ Relief
The masseter muscle is the primary muscle used for chewing in the mouth. This muscle can hurt your chin when it’s tight.
Put your middle and index fingers on your chin, just below your cheekbone, to give yourself this massage. Move your fingers in trim rings and gently press down for about 30 seconds. Keep massaging any sore spots as you slowly move down toward the chin. If your jaw hurts, apply light pressure first and build it up as needed.
This exercise can help keep your jaw loose if you do it every day.
2. TMJ Release Massage
Deep muscle tension in the jaw and temples can be eased with this method. A lot of people who have TMJ pain also have stress headaches, which this massage can help reduce.
Put your fingers on your temples above your ears to give yourself this TMJ massage treatment. Put light pressure on it and move your fingers around in a circle. Move gently down toward the jaw, following the line of tense muscles.
You can feel sore places while doing it. If you do, pause to unwind and lightly press the area to help with stress release.
Deep breathing during this massage will allow you to unwind. Hold it for a second via your nose, then gently let it out. This reduces your stress, which eases TMJ discomfort.
3. Buccal Massage for TMJ
One unique approach for internal mouth-based deep muscular tension release is buccal massage. Although it sounds unusual, this approach is quite popular among qualified TMJ therapists since it performs effectively.
Before beginning this massage, wash your hands thoroughly. Rest your thumb inside your lips against the inside of your cheek. Press the outside of your cheek with your middle finger, then compress the muscles between your fingers. Applying light pressure, move gently in a circle for around thirty seconds on each side.
This approach lets go of tension by working on the deep jaw muscles you cannot reach from the outside. If the pressure causes discomfort, change it or take breaks.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform a TMJ Massage
If you have never done TMJ massages, follow these guidelines for the best results.
- Look for a peaceful, cozy spot where you can unwind.
- When you are planning to give an interior massage, wash your hands.
- Start with low pressure and raise it progressively as necessary.
- To release the muscles, massage in little, circular motions.
- To help your body unwind, really inhale.
- Daily repetition helps to show long-term changes.
Stop the massage and consult a specialist if you experience sharp pain or increased discomfort.
Additional Tips for TMJ Relief
Massage might not be enough to get rid of TMJ pain completely. For best results, do it along with other easy changes to your lifestyle that are good for your mouth.
Applying a warm compress to the muscles can help them relax and increase the efficacy of the massage before you start. Additionally, mild stretches help to keep the jaw supple and prevent stiffness.
To avoid jaw aches, stop eating chewy or hard meals. Likewise, good posture helps prevent an excessively rigid jaw.
Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or TMJ pain is generally caused by tension, so these techniques could help you to relax. Especially under stress, many people clench their teeth without even noticing it. Knowing this pattern and purposefully loosening your jaw all day enables you to prevent tension from building.
When to See a Specialist?
A lot of people find that TMJ treatment helps, but sometimes, you may need to see a doctor. You should see an expert if your pain is horrible or doesn’t get better after massage.
Signs that you may need medical attention include:
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
- Pain that spreads to the ears, neck, or head
- Sounds of clicking or popping that get worse over time
- Swelling around the jaw
- Pain that doesn’t go away after self-care for a few weeks
A doctor or TMJ massage therapist can help you figure out what is hurting you and, if necessary, offer other treatments. People who need long-term care may provide certain types of massaging, physical therapy, or dental work.
Conclusion
TMJ disease is a disturbing condition that affects many people all over the world. The good thing is TMJ massage; some of its major types are helping those with reliable results.
Natural approaches, such as relaxing muscles and improving blood flow, are always better. Massaging your lips, jaw joint, and gums will help relieve pain and make moving your mouth easier.
Massage might help with your TMJ treatment, especially if you eat well, do light exercise, and enjoy leisure activities. Regardless, you should see a doctor if your pain doesn’t go away or gets worse.
Looking after your mouth will help it stay healthy and pain-free.