TMJ dysfunction
Understanding Your TMJ
The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joints (TMJs) are the two joints that connect your mandible (lower jaw) to your cranium (head), and act like a hinge to open your mouth. They are located in front of the ear and are one of the most complex joints in the body. These joints and many muscles work together to perform chewing, talking, yawning, and swallowing. TMJ Dysfunction is when the TMJs and jaw muscles do not function properly, which can lead to pain in the head, neck and jaw.
General Symptoms
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, neck, or around the ear
- Aching facial pain
- Earaches
- Headaches, especially around the temples
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, face, or behind the eyes
- Earaches or ringing in the ears
- Clenching or grinding of the teeth (bruxism)
- Dizziness
- Tingling or numbness in the arms and fingers (in some cases)
Jaw/Mouth Symptoms
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Jaw that locks, making it hard to open or close the mouth
- Limited range of motion in the jaw
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when chewing or opening the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, especially hard or crunchy foods
- A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Tooth sensitivities without dental concerns
- Crooked lower jaw
- Difficulty speaking, such as slurred or garbled speech
TMJ Massage Therapy
Slow, fascial manipulation is performed to calm the muscles of mastication (chewing) and release tension and pain in the surrounding tissues. Specific work is done inside the mouth (intra-oral) as well as addressing other muscles that may be involved, such as neck and shoulder muscles.
(Gloves are worn while working inside the mouth)
Craniosacral for TMJ
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that addresses the body as a whole. This unique modality creates a space where the body can recognize, and reconnect, to its own innate healing process within.
This reconnection can support the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and improve the function of the central nervous system, as well as assist in the metabolization of any physical or emotional traumas,
This can aide in a shift of the body from a “fight-or-flight” activated state, to a “rest-and-digest” calm state.