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How Regular Sessions Can Help Relieve Jaw Pain and Tension
Hey there! A few weeks ago I posted about TMJ massage and mentioned bruxism. Bruxism is the act of grinding or clenching your teeth, more often than not during sleep. Are you one of the many people suffering from bruxism or Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)? From jaw pain and headaches to difficulty speaking or eating, the symptoms of bruxism and TMD can really take a toll on your daily life.
How Massage Therapy Can Help with Bruxism
You see, bruxism causes tension and muscle imbalances in the jaw and face, and massage therapy can target these areas and release the built-up tension. Some of the specific areas that are affected are.
Masseter muscle: This muscle is located on the side of the jaw and is responsible for closing the jaw. Bruxism can cause the masseter muscle to become overworked and fatigued, leading to tension and pain.
Temporalis muscle: This muscle is located on the side of the head and is also responsible for closing the jaw. Like the masseter muscle, the temporali muscle can become overworked and fatigued due to bruxism, leading to tension and pain.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ): This joint connects the lower jaw to the skull and allows for movement of the jaw. Bruxism can cause the TMJ to become inflamed and painful, leading to difficulty opening and closing the jaw.
Cervical spine: Bruxism can cause tension and pain in the muscles and joints of the cervical spine, which is the upper part of the spine that connects the head to the shoulders.
Trapezius muscle: This muscle is located on the upper back and shoulders and can become tense and painful due to bruxism.
Sternocleidomastoid muscle: This muscle is located in the front of the neck and can become tense and painful due to bruxism, especially when coupled with poor posture.
Scalene muscles: These are three muscles located in the front and sides of the neck and can become tense and painful due to bruxism.
The reason why these muscles and joints become tense because of bruxism is that bruxism is a habit of grinding and clenching of the teeth that puts a lot of stress and strain on the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint. The chronic tension on the jaw muscles, TMJ and surrounding areas can lead to pain, tension and muscle imbalances, and in some cases even cause headaches, earaches, tooth and jaw pain and more.
When you look at the list above of just some of the muscles and joints that are affected you can see that working on just the TMJ alone is not seeing the whole picture. A massage therapist (me!) who's trained in working with these conditions will work with you to create a cohesive, holistic treatment, and plan, to help alleviate tension created by bruxism. I'll use various massage techniques, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release to look ath te whole picture and help alleviate your pain.
Why You Should Try Massage Therapy for Bruxism?
Massage therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment option for bruxism and TMJ Disorders. It's been shown to be effective in reducing pain and inflammation, as well as improving mobility and function in the jaw. Plus, it can also help to reduce stress and tension, which can be a major contributing factor to both bruxism and TMJ disorders. By reducing stress and tension, massage therapy may help prevent future episodes of grinding and jaw pain.
If you're in Ottawa and you're looking for a massage therapist who specializes in treating bruxism and TMJ disorders, look no further! I offer massage therapy specifically tailored to help with these conditions. My training and experience in this area, allows me to use the right techniques to release the tension and muscle imbalances that are causing your pain and discomfort. Don't suffer in silence any longer, give massage therapy a try and see how it can help you today!