Clenching your jaw during a stressful meeting. Waking up with a sore jaw or a dull headache near your temples. If any of this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with jaw tension or TMJ-related discomfort — and it’s more common than you’d think. One of the most targeted ways to address it is buccal facial massage, sometimes called an intra-oral or “inside-out” facial massage.
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Jaw tension is often linked to:
Left unaddressed, this tension can contribute to headaches, facial soreness, and a feeling of tightness that spreads to the neck and shoulders.
Buccal facial massage is a hands-on technique that works the muscles of the jaw and face from both outside and inside the mouth. Some of the muscles most involved in jaw clenching — like the pterygoid muscles — sit in a spot that’s difficult to reach any other way. Buccal massage may help address tension in jaw muscles that can be difficult to access externally.
Buccal facial massage may be worth exploring if you regularly experience jaw clenching, TMJ discomfort, tension headaches, or simply want a more targeted approach to facial tension than a standard facial. At Queen’s Therapy, this treatment is offered as part of our massage therapy services by our team of practitioners.
It can feel unusual the first time since it involves gentle work inside the mouth, but most clients find it relaxing rather than painful. Your practitioner will always check in with you throughout the session.
This depends on how much tension you’re holding and your day-to-day habits, like clenching or grinding. Many clients start with more frequent sessions and taper off to maintenance visits.
TMD can be associated with headaches, and manual therapy may help some people with related symptoms, though results vary.
Ready to give your jaw some relief? Book a buccal facial massage at Queen’s Therapy in Coquitlam.
