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Struggling with Jaw Pain? Here’s How Massage Therapy and Home Care Can Relieve Your TMJ Symptoms

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the hinge joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull, located just in front of each ear.

Struggling with Jaw Pain? Here’s How Massage Therapy and Home Care Can Relieve Your TMJ Symptoms

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TMJ Symptoms: Signs, Causes, and How Massage May Help Jaw Pain

TMJ symptoms can be surprisingly broad: one day it’s jaw pain when you chew, the next it’s a headache around your temples, earache, or a clicking sound when you open your mouth. These symptoms are often linked to temporomandibular disorders (TMD)—issues affecting the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement.

This guide breaks down the most common TMJ disorder symptoms, what can trigger them, how to manage TMJ symptoms at home, and where Buccal massage may fit as supportive care—especially when stress, clenching, posture, and muscle tension are part of the picture.

What are TMJ symptoms (and what is TMD)?

Your temporomandibular joints sit just in front of your ears and help your jaw open, close, and glide. When people say “I have TMJ,” they usually mean TMD—a group of conditions affecting the joint, the disc inside it, and/or the surrounding muscles.

One important note: clicking or popping without pain can be common and may not need treatment. The combination of pain, restriction, locking, or quality-of-life impact is what usually matters most.

TMJ Symptoms

The most common TMJ symptoms

1) Jaw pain, tenderness, and chewing discomfort

The most common TMJ symptoms are:

  • Pain or tenderness in the jaw or chewing muscles
  • Pain that worsens when chewing or talking
  • Aching facial pain, sometimes spreading into the neck

Some people notice the pain more on one side, especially if they chew predominantly on one side or clench more on one side.

2) Clicking, popping, grinding—or a jaw that locks

You might notice:

  • Clicking or popping when opening the mouth
  • Grinding/crepitus sensations
  • Limited opening, stiffness, or episodes of locking

If you have clicking with no pain and no restriction, that alone is less concerning. If you have clicking plus pain, locking, or you can’t open normally, that’s more consistent with clinically meaningful TMJ disorder symptoms.

3) Headaches and temple pain

Many people with TMJ symptoms report:

  • Headaches, often around the temples
  • Tension-type headaches, sometimes migraine-like
    This may be linked to jaw muscle overactivity (especially with clenching).

TMJ symptoms ear-related (earache, ringing, dizziness)

It’s common to be confused by ear symptoms. TMJ symptoms ear-related can include:

  • Earache or pain around the ear
  • Ringing (tinnitus)
  • Dizziness or a “full ear” sensation

If ear symptoms are prominent, it’s still worth checking for ear infection or other ear causes—especially if you also have fever, discharge, or sudden hearing loss.

TMJ nerve damage symptoms — what’s typical and what isn’t

People search “TMJ nerve damage symptoms” because jaw pain can feel sharp, burning, or radiating. But true nerve damage signs are not the classic presentation of TMD.

Consider getting assessed promptly if you notice:

  • Numbness or tingling in the face that persists
  • Facial weakness or drooping
  • New problems with vision, severe scalp tenderness, or severe headaches unlike your usual pattern

These aren’t “normal TMJ symptoms” and deserve medical evaluation to rule out other causes.

Is Buccal Massage Good for TMJ and Jaw Tension?

If you grind your teeth, wake up with a stiff jaw, or experience clicking and aching around the joint, you might be asking whether buccal massage for TMJ is worth trying.

Evidence from small clinical trials on intraoral myofascial therapy suggests improvements in jaw pain, mouth opening and overall function compared with no treatment, especially when combined with education and self-care.

However, it’s important to be realistic:

  • Buccal massage is not a cure for TMD or TMJ disorders.
  • It works best as part of a broader plan that can include manual therapy, stress management and home exercises.
  • Anyone with significant jaw locking, acute injury or complex medical history should seek medical advice first.

In clinic, I find buccal massage especially helpful for clients whose jaw tension is driven by stress and posture and who already follow advice from their dentist or doctor.

TMJ infection symptoms — when jaw pain isn’t “just TMJ”

Sometimes jaw pain is blamed on TMJ disorders when the cause is actually dental or infectious.

Seek urgent dental/medical advice if you have jaw pain plus:

  • Fever, significant swelling, or feeling unwell
  • Tooth pain that’s worsening, bad taste/pus, or gum swelling
  • Severe pain with rapid escalation

Infections (including dental abscesses) require professional treatment—massage is not appropriate as a substitute in those situations.

What causes TMJ disorders?

TMJ disorders can be multifactorial. Common causes and contributors include:

Bruxism (clenching and grinding)

Night-time grinding or day-time clenching can overload jaw muscles and irritate the joint.

Stress and jaw tension

Stress can increase muscle tension and clenching—many people notice TMJ symptoms flare during high-stress periods.

Injury, arthritis, and wear-and-tear

A blow to the jaw/face, arthritis, or joint wear can all contribute.

Posture and the neck/shoulder connection

Forward-head posture and chronically tight neck/shoulder muscles can feed into jaw tension patterns. Cleveland Clinic specifically highlights posture as a factor that can worsen TMD habits and symptoms.

How to manage TMJ symptoms at home (first-line)

Most reputable sources emphasise conservative self-care first.

Soft-food strategy (give your jaw a break)

Try a short “jaw rest” period:

  • Soft foods (soups, pasta, omelettes)
  • Smaller bites, avoid tearing with front teeth

Heat vs ice

Some people prefer heat for muscle tightness; others prefer cold for acute soreness. The NHS suggests using a heat pack or ice pack (wrapped) based on what feels better.

Gentle self-massage + relaxation

The NHS explicitly lists massaging painful jaw muscles and finding ways to relax as self-care steps.
Keep it gentle—think “soothing,” not “digging in.”

Habits to stop (the big TMJ symptom triggers)

Common “don’ts” include:

  • Chewing gum / pen tops
  • Nail biting
  • Very wide yawns
  • Clenching with teeth together when you’re not eating

Treatments for TMJ disorders (what professionals may recommend)

If symptoms persist, worsen, or significantly affect daily life, a GP, dentist, or physiotherapist may help.

How it’s assessed

Diagnosis is usually based on history and exam; imaging is sometimes used if needed.

Mouthguards / splints

These are often used when grinding/clenching is involved (especially at night). Evidence varies, and fit/appropriateness matters.

Manual therapy

Conservative care often includes jaw exercises and manual approaches. NIDCR notes that one type of physical therapy is manual therapy, which has been shown to help improve function and relieve pain.

Medication

OTC anti-inflammatories may help some people (if appropriate for you), and clinicians may suggest other options based on the presentation.

Why conservative care comes first

NIDCR strongly recommends avoiding treatments that permanently change the bite/jaw or involve surgery unless clearly indicated—because evidence is lacking for many invasive approaches and risks can be significant.

Buccal massage: how massage therapy may help

Massage isn’t a “cure” for TMJ disorders—but it can be a useful supportive tool when muscle tension, stress, posture, and clenching are driving symptoms.

What Buccal massage focuses on

A good TMJ-focused approach typically considers:

  • Jaw and chewing muscles
  • Neck and shoulder tension (often linked)
  • Stress downregulation (helping reduce habitual clenching)

Jaw self-massage is already part of NHS self-care

The NHS includes “massage the painful jaw muscles” as a self-management step—so professionally delivered soft tissue work can be thought of as an extension of conservative care for the muscular component.

Intra-oral (buccal) techniques

For some clients, intra-oral (buccal) work may help release tension in specific chewing muscles. This should be:

  • Consent-led
  • Gentle and clinically sensible
  • Avoided when infection is suspected, and used cautiously if symptoms are severe or unexplained

How many sessions?

For muscle-driven TMJ symptoms, people often notice:

  • Early changes in jaw “ease” and neck/shoulder load
  • Gradual improvements with a short plan (e.g., a few sessions) plus home habits

If symptoms don’t improve, or if they worsen, it’s a sign to reassess and involve a dentist/GP/manual therapis.

TMJ disorders near me: who to see in London (quick guide)

If you’re searching “TMJ disorders near me,” a practical order is:

  • Dentist: bite/grinding, tooth wear, jaw joint assessment, splint discussion
  • GP: persistent pain, red flags, referral pathways
  • Manual therapist: jaw exercises, posture, manual therapy
  • Specialist: if conservative care fails or symptoms are complex

FAQ: TMJ symptoms

What are TMJ symptoms?

TMJ symptoms commonly include jaw pain/tenderness, clicking or popping, headaches (often temples), difficulty opening fully, and sometimes ear-related symptoms like earache or ringing.

What causes TMJ disorders?

Common contributors include clenching/grinding, stress, injury, arthritis, and habits/posture that increase jaw muscle tension.

Can stress contribute to TMJ symptoms?

Yes—stress can increase jaw tension and clenching, and many people feel symptoms worsen during stressful periods.

How to relax TMJ symptoms quickly?

Start conservatively: jaw rest (soft foods), heat or cold (whichever feels better), gentle jaw self-massage, and relaxation techniques.

How to manage TMJ symptoms at home?

Avoid gum and nail biting, don’t yawn too wide, keep teeth apart when not eating, use heat/ice, eat softer foods, and reduce clenching triggers.

Can TMJ cause ear pain or ringing?

It can. Earache, tinnitus, and dizziness are reported in TMD presentations, but persistent or severe ear symptoms still warrant medical/dental assessment to rule out other causes.

When should I seek urgent help?

If you can’t eat/drink, your jaw is locking severely, symptoms are intense, or you have vision problems/severe headaches or other red flags, seek urgent advice.

 

Book Buccal massage in London

If your TMJ symptoms feel driven by tight jaw muscles, stress, and neck/shoulder tension, a targeted massage approach may help reduce strain and support your wider care plan.

Book your massage session in London today and let’s create a calm, practical plan for jaw and upper-body tension relief.

Marta Suchanska

About the Author

Marta Suchanska is the founder of MɅSSɅGE, a Certified Massage Therapist, Nutritional Therapist, and final-year student of Osteopathic Medicine based in Marylebone, London. With over 10 years of experience, she specialises in a holistic, personalised approach to women’s health and chronic pain. Marta’s mission is to address root causes, helping clients restore balance and long-term wellbeing.

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