Intra-Oral massage*  is a safe and effective manual technique that works on muscles inside the mouth. This technique can be intense, but it is not necessarily painful. Since it deals with muscles that are rarely touched, they respond to slow, methodic and gentle pressure.

During Treatment: Gloves are worn while working inside the mouth to release the muscles and fascia involved with chewing and jaw clenching. Other areas that are typically worked during this type of treatment may include; muscles in the back and front of the neck, muscles on the outside of the mouth, scalp and muscles at the base of the skull. The results can be life-changing for those with chronic pain.

TMJ Dysfunction affects an estimated 10 million Americans frequently between ages 20 and 40, more commonly found in women than men. Listed below are some frequent causes and symptoms of TMJD.

Signs and Symptoms:

• TMJ noise (clicking, popping, or grinding)
• Headaches and migraines
• Muscle spams in the head, jaw, neck and shoulder
• Mandible deviations with movement
• Postural dysfunctions, head forward posture
• Limited opening
• Earaches including congestion and pain
• Swelling on the side of the face
• Vertigo (dizziness)
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Nausea
• Clenching/bruxism (grinding)
• Facial pain
• Fatigued facial muscles
• Tender, sensitive teeth
• Difficulty chewing
• Cervical (neck) pain
• Postural problems

If either you have been diagnosed with TMD or have pain in the jaw, by the ears, forehead, back of the head, neck and shoulders you will benefit greatly. Many patients have been successfully treated for TMJ syndrome using Intra-Oral Massage Therapy, by using these specific massage techniques to the face, head, neck, jaw and oral cavity.

Causes of TMJ Dysfunction

• Whiplash
• Bruxism
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Emotional trauma
• Trigger points
• Postural dysfunction

*Please notify your therapist of any physical and emotion trauma no matter how long ago the incident occurred. Emotional releases are common and normal with this type of work.