Trigger points can be a pain in the butt. Commonly referred to as “trigger points,” these concentrated epicenters of pain can really put a damper on your best day.

Many people have “trigger points” or muscle knots for pain located in their jaw, head, and neck. Although trigger points can cause stubborn flashes of pain, they are often underdiagnosed. The ensuing headaches, earaches or toothaches can affect the position of the jaw, and with it, the muscles in the jaw.

Your primary chewing muscle is the masseter. It covers the sides of the jaw behind the cheeks and is the muscle that you use to clench your jaw and grind your teeth. Not surprisingly, it’s also the most common location for trigger points in the human body. The masseter muscle knots can directly cause or complicate several problems such as tension headaches, earaches, toothaches, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

You can see why this muscle, along with others tied to trigger points, might benefit from TMJ massage. Give us a call today. Our trained TMJ massage therapists can identify the root cause of your TMJ or find your trigger points and provide immediate relief.

The pain associated with the thermo mandibular joint can come at any point during the day: when you’re actively engaging the joint by chewing on gum, or even when you’re in a passive state such as sitting at your desk typing. Here are the most common treatments to reduce TMJ pain:

1. Self Treatment. The best place to start when looking to reduce TMJ pain is with a little personal TLC. Depending on where the pain is felt, you can apply light to moderate pressure in circular motions to release the muscle or joint in the tender area. Light pressing the tender area for 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off may help as well. For other ideas, see 3 DIY Techniques to Lesson TMJ Discomfort.
2. Botox Injections. While Botox injections may sound intense, they’re more common than you think. Botox injections reduce TMJ pain because they prevent the pain signals from the nerves to reach their end point in your neck, face, forehead, or shoulders. By numbing the nerve signals, you’ll experience temporary relaxation of the targeted muscles.
3. Dental Appliances. NTI-tss, splint or night guards are another common option when looking to reduce TMJ pain. These appliances are custom made and fit to the shape of your mouth and are designed to put some space between your lower and upper jaw.
4. Pain Medications. Anti-inflammatory medications including Prednisone, Elavil, Ibuprofen can be taken to relieve the pain of TMJ for a short time period. It is advised that you consult with your doctor before taking any medication.
5. TMJ Massage. Lastly, no list for reducing TMJ pain would be complete without including a TMJ Massage Therapist. As a specialist in the thermo mandibular joint and TMJD, a TMJ Massage Therapist not only address the jaw, but investigates the muscles surrounding the jaw, incorporating massage therapy to address the pain itself.

Whether you’re a DIY kind of person or someone who would prefers getting help from a professional, the fact remains that experiencing chronic pain is not normal and it’s not something you have to live with on an everyday basis. If your pain is so intense, we recommend coming in to have a conversation with our Lead TMJ Massage Therapist, Dominic Fricano. Together we can determine the best option for you.

If you are a TMJ Sufferer, you’re fully aware that your TMJD limits your options on the menu. Simply put, it is very difficult to eat when you are in constant pain and have restricted motion in your jaw. Here are 7 foods we recommend avoiding if you experience TMJD:

1. Chewing Gum.

Every single time you take a bite, you open and close your jaw, a.k.a your thermo mandibular joint. Consequently, this stretches your muscles and leads to an increase in the tension of the jaw and joint.

2. Burgers & Subs.

With barbeque season on the horizon, it was hard to include this on the list but we must! Avoid large burgers and submarine sandwiches if you want to keep the pain at bay. It is impossible for a TMJ patient with limited range of motion to open their jaw to fit a burger or a large sandwich. (While we’re talking about BBQ’s, say ‘No thanks!’ to corn on the cobb as well.)

3. Hard Candy.
If you have TMJ pain don’t make your muscles work even harder with hard candy. Please: Just say no!

4. Chewy Meat.

We understand the allure of a juicy steak but don’t forget what you pay in exchange for all that chomping. Instead, look to grilled chicken, fish, or tofu for your protein at meals. Less work on your jaw means less pain.

5. Taffy.

Taffy and other chewy candies that demand some jaw movement is not recommended.

6. Hard Bread and Pretzels.

Say ‘au revoir’ to baguettes because those will only welcome in the pain. Foods such as hard breads and pretzels force your jaws muscles to work on overdrive which creates unnecessary pain.

7. Salads and Vegetables. With all the additions typically tossed into a salad (croutons, carrots, cucumber, broccoli, et) your jaw turns into a crunching, chewing machine demanding a high level of work on your jaw muscles.

Soft foods like soups, shakes, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs and yogurt are great alternatives for those who are suffering from TMJ pain. And bonus: they’re all healthier options for your as well (save the salad and veggies of course)! Alright, alright, we understand these foods may not be the most exciting, but do you know what’s another soft food you can eat? Cake.

What’s the difference between TMJ and TMJD? Is there a difference? Find out in our post TMJ, TMD, TMJD: What’s the Difference?

It’s been estimated that over 10 million Americans suffer from TMJD or temporomandibular joint disorder. If you’re someone who does not from this pain, consider yourself a lucky one – maybe you’ll even find a penny head’s up on your way to work this morning!

We’ve put together seven ways you can keep your lucky streak going and avoid TMJD:

1. Relax your face — remember the rule: “Lips together, teeth apart”
2. Avoid grinding your teeth
3. Avoid constant gum chewing
4. Don’t cradle the phone receiver between your head and shoulder — either use a headset or hold the receiver to your ear
5. Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
6. Do not sit with your chin rested on your hand
7. Practice good posture — keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared

By practicing these techniques daily, you’ll condition yourself to keep the pain at bay. Are you already feeling symptoms in a certain region of your body? Check out our TMJD Symptom Series here.

Along with eye pain, ear pain is a common complaint seen with TMJD.

You’ve been thinking about visiting TMJ Massage but you still aren’t quite convinced. In this post we’ll dive into 5 benefits of visiting with our team.

Let’s set the stage: You’re at the office on a Tuesday afternoon. You just finished lunch: ham sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo, carrots and an apple (you’re healthy after all!). Now you’re starting to feel that nasty pain in front of your ears creep up on you again. This has been happening for the past month and you’re unsure what’s the cause of this throbbing ache. It’s very possible that you’re suffering from TMJ Discomfort or pain in the thermo mandibular joint.

Here are 3 do-it-yourself techniques, or what we call “self manipulation,” that may help in reducing your pain:

1. Find the spot that hurts and apply slow steady pressure for about 30 seconds.
2. Slowly run your fingers through your hair with pressure along side your temples above your ears. Do this a few times in a row, then come back to it in 5-8 minutes and repeat.
3. Quick question: How are you sitting in your chair? Are you looking down at your computer or straight on? Posture matters whether sitting or standing. Rather than looking down at your phone or your computer, prop up your devices so they are at eye-level. Sit on the edge of your seat (your back should not be touching the back of the chair), both feet on the floor, and elongate your spine up so that your belly is sticking out. With your shoulders back, your spine should follow its natural curve with the head focused straight.

If you’re still experiencing the same throbbing pain, it may be time to visit a TMJ Massage Therapist. When doing these techniques on your own, it’s important to remember that self manipulation could possibly create other areas of pain. Set up your appointment with a TMJ Massage Therapist today to learn what you can do to cut that pain out of your life for good.

In Part 3 of our TMJD Symptom Series, we’ll identify 6 different aches and pains felt across the head and face.

The pain you’re experiencing in your jaw is getting worse and worse so you think TMJ surgery may be an option for you. Before you go ahead and book your appointment with an oral surgeon, consider these six questions and answers first.

We’ve finally made it to the end of our TMJD Symptom Series. See what symptoms of TMJD involve the mouth and throat.