Journal
Intra-oral TMJ massage: what actually happens?
4 minute read. Written by the team at Back in Health, Kelowna.
In short
Intra-oral TMJ massage is a registered massage therapist working on the jaw muscles from inside the mouth, wearing medical gloves, as well as from the outside. It reaches muscles you cannot get to through the cheek, and it is usually a short part of a longer session on the jaw, neck and head. It suits jaw tension, clenching and clicking; locking, swelling or trouble opening the mouth should be seen by a dentist or doctor first.
Why inside the mouth
Several of the muscles that close and steady the jaw sit partly behind the cheekbone and along the inside of the mouth. From outside you can reach the masseter, the big muscle you feel when you clench, but not all of the deeper muscles that drive grinding and clenching. Working from the inside lets the therapist reach them directly, with much lighter pressure than you might expect.
What a session looks like
The session starts with questions about your jaw, headaches, sleep and any dental work, and a look at how your jaw opens and moves. Most of the treatment is outside the mouth, on the jaw, neck, shoulders and head, because those areas feed into jaw tension. The intra-oral part is a few minutes per side, with gloved fingers, and you can stop it at any time by raising a hand.
Expect it to feel tender in spots and odd rather than painful. Many people notice their jaw sits more easily straight afterwards.
Who it suits, and who should wait
It is a good fit for clenching and grinding, jaw tension that comes with stress or headaches, and clicking without pain or locking. If your jaw locks open or shut, is swollen, or you have had recent dental surgery, see your dentist or doctor first. A night guard from your dentist and hands-on treatment often work well together.
At Back in Health, Derya Welder has completed an in-depth course in treating TMJ disorder intra-orally. Ask for her by name when you book at either clinic.
Key points
- Gloved work inside the mouth reaches deeper jaw muscles
- Only a few minutes of a longer jaw, neck and head session
- Tender and odd rather than painful; you can stop any time
- Locking, swelling or recent dental surgery: dentist or doctor first
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.