April is Oral Health Month and an important part of this celebration is National Dental Hygienists Week™, celebrated annually in the second week of April. Good oral health is critical to overall health.

Did you know that Massage Therapy can help alleviate symptoms of TMJ dysfunction and help build jaw awareness to correct muscle imbalances in the jaw?

TMJ dysfunction is a disorder of the muscles of mastication (chewing and speech), the temporomandibular joints and associated structures. It can manifest as head, jaw and/or ear pain and is associated with:

• popping and / or clicking in the jaw,
• range of motion changes in the jaw (limitations and/or deviations when opening and closing), and
• lock jaw.

Potential causes of the dysfunction are:

• muscle imbalances in the jaw,
• muscle overuse (chewing gum, chewing on one side, prolonged yawning, pipe /cigar smoking, or an activity / occupation requiring a mouthpiece or mouthguard etc),
• malocclusion (loss of a tooth or molar, disturbing the mouth’s balance),
• bone alignment and postural dysfunctions (scoliosis, head forward postures – think desk jobs, leg length discrepancies etc),
• increased stress (clenching jaw, grinding teeth),
• direct physical trauma,
• sinus blockage or infections, and
• joint pathologies (hypermobility, osteoarthritis etc)

Contact your friendly neighbourhood massage therapist if you experience any of these symptoms.  Or call the clinic to book an appointment at 830.6600