Headaches, sore teeth and jaw, earaches, blocked ears, ringing in the ears. What do these all have in common? The Temporomandibularjoint or TMJ can be a contributing cause in all of these conditions. Massaging the jaw both externally and internally can greatly relieve these symptoms.
Many years ago I experienced TMJ dysfunction - I could not fit a spoon in my mouth! A few sessions of manual therapy later and I was eating breakfast again. Now I regularly self massage to relieve ringing in my ears, blocked ears and general tightness in my jaw. Clients I have massaged are often amazed at how tight they were and how different it feels when we release the TMJ.
Other TMJ dysfunctions include clicking jaw, lock jaw, and restricted function like I had. Here is a quick test - can you fit your 2nd 3rd and 4th fingers vertically in between your teeth when your jaw is open? If you cannot or it’s a bit of stretch, perhaps massage can help ease that tightness. Don’t forget your dentist and physiotherapist should also help to rule out other possible causes.
