TMJ Massage & Herbs

Your temporomandibular joint is located where the lower jaw and your skull connect. The two joints are a combination of hinge action with a sliding motion to accommodate eating, chewing, swallowing and talking. The two bones are covered in cartilage and are separated by a small disk that helps to absorb shock and keeps the movement of the jaw smooth. The abbreviation TMJ literally refers to the joint but has also come to mean a number of disorders or symptoms that affect this region of your face.

TMJ Dysfunction

TMJ dysfunction and disorders can happen if the disk degenerates or moves out of alignment, is damaged by arthritis or a blow to the area or if the muscles that stabilize the area become fatigued by overwork, according to MayoClinic.com. This fatigue of the muscles can occur if you routinely clench or grind your teeth during the day or at night. This activity is called bruxism. The cause of clenching or grinding your teeth is not completely agreed upon, according to MedlinePlus. However, it is common in people who are under daily stress, have teeth that are misaligned, have poor posture and a poor ability to relax.

Massage Therapy

TMJ symptoms include pain or tenderness in the jaw, aching pain around the ear, difficulty or discomfort during chewing, locking or snapping of the joint, headaches, an uneven bit or an uncomfortable bite, according to MayoClinic.com. You may also experience a clicking sound or grating sensation with pain or limitation of movement when you open your mouth or chew. MedlinePlus recommends gentle stretching, relaxation or massage to the muscles around the jaw to reduce muscle tension. An early study in 1981 published in "Special Care in Dentistry" found that although they could not pinpoint a reason, the behavior of clenching and grinding decreased with massage of the masseter muscles in the face. Along with massage of the jaw muscles, MayoClinic.com also recommends using warm moist heat with the massage or ice to help alleviate the pain.

Herbal Relaxation

A strong trigger of TMJ dysfunction is stress and muscle activity in the jaw. One Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal recommendation is the use of Bao He Wan which helps to regulate the digestive system and reduce emotional stress. Feverfew is another herbal remedy that has extensive use for arthritis and headaches, both of which are present in people who suffer from TMJ dysfunction. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center feverfew gained popularity in the 1980s for headaches. It has anti-inflammatory properties which may also help reduce the inflammation found in the temporomandibular joint with dysfunction.

Warnings

Although TMJ dysfunction is painful and uncomfortable, it will often go away independent of any treatment. However, it can become chronic and lead to chronic use of the pain medication. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends using conservative treatment initially before considering other irreversible treatments, such as surgery and implants. There have been no long term studies of surgical procedures that indicate safety or effectiveness and implants may fail to function properly or may break apart in the jaw over time. Undergoing multiple surgical procedures usually indicates that there is a poor outlook for normal, pain-free joint function.