TMJ Massage Toronto
What is TMJ? What does TMJ stand for?
What is TMJ therapy? / TMJ Massage Therapy / TMJ massage / TMJ treatment?
What is Massage therapy for jaw pain / Jaw pain massage?
How can Massage Therapy help TMJ?
TMJ Massage Therapy is treatment that focuses on the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) also known as your Jaw Joint. The TMJ is where your Mandible bone (the lower part of your jaw, including your chin, that moves around when you talk or chew) meets your Temporal bone (the part of your skull that surrounds your ear). There are ligaments that prevent the mandible from separating too far from the temporal bone, and there are also several muscles that control different functions of movement in your jaw. These include small muscles that fine tune movements forward, backward, side-to-side, and a gliding action that happens when you open wide; there are also larger muscles that you use primarily for biting and chewing; and a group of muscles that open the jaw.
Lots going on!
The TMJ gets a lot of use in everyday activities and sometimes we find ourselves clenching when we’re not even trying! TMJ Therapy can help reduce tension, balance out your jaw muscles, relax the nervous system, and mobilize the joint for easier use and more functional movement.
To treat the small muscles at the back of your jaw, your RMT can put on gloves and work inside your mouth, but it is often effective just to treat the larger muscles from outside your jaw. Talk with your therapist to figure out an option that works best for you.
Where can I get TMJ treatment Massage Therapy? How can I find TMJ Massage Therapy near me?
There are many RMTs who provide TMJ therapy in Toronto, and some clinics that provide only TMJ treatments. If you are near Bloor and Sherbourne, come and see one of our TMJ therapists at Zazen Massage & Wellness.
What is Craniosacral Therapy for TMJ?
At the present time, we don’t have Craniosacral Therapists at Zazen, but it’s possible that we’ll have this service at some point. In general, Craniosacral therapy for TMJ is a gentle treatment that manipulates the muscles and joints of the jaw with the aim of relaxing your joint into a better functioning state.
What is Massage therapy for TMJ disorder - Can massage therapy help TMJ?
TMJ disorders, often simply referred to as TMJ, can describe any kind of malalignment, irritable holding tension, or other disfunction that involves the Jaw Joint. Massage Therapy is often quite effective at reducing tension and mobilizing the joint to improve its balance, comfort and function.
What are TMJ symptoms?
Some common symptoms associated with TMJ disfunction are headaches, inner ear irritation or pain, soreness around the muscles of the jaw, an inability to stop clenching, tooth pain and wearing of the teeth, irritation or recession of the gums. TMJ massage therapy can be a valuable tool to reduce these symptoms.
What are some TMJ exercises?
An exercise that can be quite effective is applying gentle pressure to the muscles in the side of your jaw while you slowly move through all the movements: up and down, side to side, front and back, all around. It can be helpful to watch this in the mirror and see how your jaw is moving. Doing this a few times a day may help reduce tension and improve function for people with minor-to-moderate TMJ disorders.
What do I do about TMJ pain / Pain in the TMJ / TMJ headache / TMJ ear pain? How can I get TMJ pain relief? How can I alleviate TMJ pain? Does massage therapy work for TMJ?
TMJ Massage Therapy can be very effective at reducing TMJ pain, and then self-care is important to maintain relief. Your RMT can offer self care advice based on your specific needs.
If your pain continues for weeks or months, you may also want to check in with your doctor.
Toronto TMJ Massage RMT
How to cure TMJ permanently? What are TMJ causes / What causes TMJ? How long does TMJ last? Does TMJ go away?
The first step to healing from a TMJ disorder to figure out its cause. This is often related to work/life stress or excessive intake of caffein or other stimulants. In these cases, finding ways to reduce stress or stimulants is an obvious remedy, but can sometimes be quite challenging to achieve, so massage therapy can be a great way to relax and reset. Of course, when the stressors resume, the TMJ disfunction can return, so an ongoing self-care routine including regular exercise and massage is beneficial. Your RMT can give helpful advice specific to your life situation. It can also be helpful to ask your doctor’s advice if your TMJ symptoms continue for weeks or months.
Can TMJ eating cause inflammation?
You use the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) to chew when you eat, and overuse may lead to inflammation in the joint. If this happens, you may try avoiding chewy foods like steak for a while until your inflammation subsides. You may also get some relief from standard TMJ therapy or lymphatic drainage to the area. If the inflammation gets really bad, check in with your doctor for some medical advice.
What is TMJ syndrome?
A symptom is a collection of symptoms that occur together, so a TMJ syndrome may include clenching, pain and inflammation occurring together. Regular TMJ massage therapy may help reduce symptoms, or you may want to check in with your doctor if you feel that the symptoms are getting serious.
How do I find a TMJ specialist Toronto?
There are clinics that specialize in TMJ therapy in Toronto. If you have TMJ discomfort that is mild-to-moderate or has been going on for a short time, our TMJ therapists at Zazen can help you to get back to a more aligned and comfortable state. If your TMJ symptoms are severe, constant and long-lasting, you may want to find a clinic that specialized in TMJ treatments. Google can be a good source of information, or you can ask your RMT to offer a referral.
Can TMJ cause neck pain?
Yes, it is possible that high-tension TMJ muscles can cause other neck muscles to become higher tension as they attempt to add support; or the neck muscles may be high tension and the TMJ muscles are following suit; or the neck pain might be coming directly from the TMJ muscles under your chin and in the front of your throat. If muscle tension or other restricted tissues or joints are the cause of your neck pain, TMJ massage can offer great relief.
Can TMJ cause teeth to hurt? Can TMJ cause tooth pain?
Yes, there are a couple reasons TMJ dysfunction can lead to tooth pain. It could be that the pain isn’t coming from your teeth at all, but from jaw (or other) muscles referring pain via the nerve pathway. Another reason may be that you have been clenching your jaw and possibly grinding your teeth causing direct pain. If the latter is the cause, it’s a good idea to check in with your dentist about a night guard to protect those precious teeth. In either of these cases, TMJ massage therapy can help relax those muscles and work out trigger points (knots) that may be referring pain into the teeth.